Neuralink Corp. had plans to implant its device in a second patient last Monday, but unfortunately, the surgery had to be postponed due to the patient's medical condition, according to Michael Lawton, the chief executive officer of the Barrow Neurological Institute.
Neuralink Brain Implant Trial
According to Lawton, the patient's health issues rendered them ineligible to participate in Neuralink's study of their experimental device. A candidate for replacement surgery is expected to have the procedure next month at the Barrow facility.
The startup is currently in the initial phases of conducting clinical trials for its innovative device.
Bloomberg stated that the primary objective of this device is to restore functionality to individuals who are paralyzed. A device has been implanted in Noland Arbaugh, making him the first human patient to undergo this procedure in Arizona.
Arbaugh, who suffered a spinal cord injury in 2016, has achieved the remarkable ability to play video games using only his thoughts.
Second Neuralink Brain Implant Patient
A patient's surgery scheduled for this week had to be cancelled due to his condition and for suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease.
This illness leads to the degeneration of nerve cells in the spine and brain. In the end, muscles lose their ability to move. Due to patient privacy rules, no additional information can be disclosed regarding the patient.
Recently, reports revealed an employee at Neuralink was allegedly forced to work with monkeys infected with the Herpes B virus, exposing her bare skin to potential scratches, as stated in a complaint filed in California state court.
In the past, the company has faced criticism for its treatment of animals, particularly monkeys, during its research conducted at the University of California at Davis. This includes instances of botched surgeries that have raised concerns. Monkey research has been relocated to separate facilities, NDTV reported.
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