Elon Musk's brain implant company, Neuralink, reported a malfunction in its device that was implanted in its first human patient.
Elon Musk's Neuralink Reports Brain Chip Implant Malfunction
In a blog post published on Wednesday, Neuralink wrote that a part of its brain implant had mechanical issues or malfunctioned a few weeks after the procedure on its first human patient.
According to CNBC, the company aims to develop a brain-computer interface (BCI) that could assist people with paralysis in controlling external devices using their thoughts alone.
BCI is a technology that decodes and transmits brain signals to an external device to perform a desired action. According to Neuralink, its "Link" system records neural signals utilizing 1,024 electrodes across 64 "threads" thinner than a human hair.
Noland Arbaugh, who became a quadriplegic following a serious diving accident eight years ago, received the company's brain chip implant in January as part of a study to test its safety.
According to the 29-year-old first human patient of Neuralink, the brain chip implant has already allowed him to play video games for hours without relying on his family members for assistance.
However, the company later discovered that some of the electrode-studded threads had retracted from Arbaugh's brain, resulting in the device not working correctly. With only a few effective electrodes, the company's ability to measure the system's speed and accuracy became limited.
Elon Musk's Brain Implant Company Neuralink Modifies the Recording Algorithm
To address this issue, Neuralink said it counteracted that retraction through software fixes. The company noted that it had modified the recording algorithm and improved the user interface and techniques for translating signals into cursor movements, which resulted in a "rapid and sustained improvement that has now superseded Noland's initial performance."
According to The Wall Street Journal, Neuralink has considered removing the implant but has yet to do so because it posed no immediate risk to Arbaugh's safety.
Neuralink said Arbaugh continued using the company's BCI system for about eight hours a day on weekdays and up to 10 hours a day on weekends despite retracting some threads from his brain tissue. In the blog post, Arbaugh said the Link system has continued to help him to "reconnect with the world."
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