FDA Clears Neuralink for Second Brain Implant
Elon Musk’s Neuralink received FDA approval for its second human brain chip implant, despite initial device malfunctions in the first patient, according to Daily Mail.
Neuralink addressed and resolved the issues faced by the 29-year-old initial recipient to secure the go-ahead from the FDA.
Earlier this month, Neuralink revealed in a blog post that several threads had retracted from Noland Arbaugh’s brain, as reported by CNBC.
Neuralink aims to cure paralysis using its brain-computer interface (BCI), enabling individuals to control external technology with their minds.
The company’s website explains that the Link system records signals through 1,024 electrodes spread across 64 ultra-thin “threads,” finer than human hair.
In January, the 2016-founded company conducted its first implant in Arbaugh, live-streaming his BCI-enabled chess game in March.
Neuralink announced in April that the surgery was “extremely successful.”
Despite the successful surgery, thread retraction led to fewer effective electrodes, affecting the device’s speed and accuracy assessment.
Neuralink’s post detailed modifications to the recording algorithm, user interface improvements, and enhanced techniques for translating signals into cursor movements.