26th May 2023 – (Los Angeles) On Thursday, Elon Musk’s brain-machine interface company, Neuralink, announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct its first-ever clinical study involving humans.
The company tweeted that this was a significant achievement, made possible by the incredible work of the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA. They also stated that this was an important first step towards making their technology available to help many people in the future.
However, Neuralink has said that recruitment for the clinical trial is not yet open, and the FDA has not commented on the matter. The extent of the approved trial is also not yet known.
Neuralink was established in 2016 with the primary goal of developing a new kind of interface technology between the human brain and computing devices. The company is primarily funded by Musk himself.
According to Neuralink, implanting a chip in the human skull could restore limb function, enhance human movement, and address vision and hearing problems, as well as help cure illnesses like Parkinson’s disease. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the medical industry and improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.
The concept of a brain-machine interface has been around for decades, but Neuralink’s approach is unique. The company’s technology involves implanting tiny electrodes into the brain that can detect and record neural activity. These electrodes are connected to a small computerchip that is implanted beneath the skin behind the ear. The chip communicates wirelessly with external devices, allowing users to control computers and other electronic devices using their thoughts.
Neuralink’s technology has the potential to change the lives of people with a wide range of neurological disorders. For example, it could help individuals with spinal cord injuries to regain movement in their limbs. It could also help individuals with hearing and vision impairments to restore their senses.
The clinical study will involve testing Neuralink’s brain-machine interface technology on a small group of patients, with the goal of assessing its safety and efficacy. The extent of the approved trial is not yet known, but it is expected to be a significant milestone for the company.