Elon Musk's brain-chip business, Neuralink, reportedly plans to include three patients in a study that will assess the device over many years. This is according to the United States government's clinical trials database, as reported by Reuters.
Notably, last year, the firm appealed to US authorities to start clinical trials to enroll ten patients.
Neuralink Aims to Allow Paralyzed People to Control Devices With Mind
Potentially useful for those who have suffered spinal cord injuries, Neuralink is now conducting trials of an implant that would allow paralyzed individuals to control electronic devices just by thinking about them. The project involves using a robot to surgically implant a brain-computer interface (BCI) in a part of the brain that regulates the intention to move.
According to Reuters, Neuralink's research is anticipated to be finished in its entirety in 2031, with its primary completion date of 2026. The research will include people with disabilities, such as quadriplegia, and people ages 22 to 75.
The database specifies that patients must have a life expectancy of 12 months or more and have restricted mobility that has not improved for a minimum of one year, among other qualifying requirements.
Eligible patients are those with very little or no movement in their hands, wrists, and arms because of a spinal cord injury or a neurological condition known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
According to the registration information, the "first-in-human early feasibility study" began in January. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the clinical experiment.
As far back as last year, when the business finally got the green light to start human trials, Neuralink insiders indicated that they had received calls from potential patients for years.
Also Read : Elon Musk's Neuralink Seeks Second Person to Test Brain Chip After US FDA Gives Green Light
Noland Arbaugh as Neuralink's First Brain-Implant Patient
The first patient, Noland Arbaugh, who is paralyzed below the shoulders following a diving accident in 2016, had the device implanted in his brain in January by Neuralink.
According to videos and blog articles from the firm, Arbaugh has been able to use the gadget to play video games, surf the web, and control a computer cursor on his laptop only by thinking about it.
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