Musk Says Neuralink Has Implanted A Third Patient With Its Brain Device

The brain-computer interface developed by Elon Musk’s Neuralink has made a major breakthrough, implanting its device in a third human patient. At an event in Las Vegas, Musk said: ‘We’ve got now three humans with Neuralinks implanted, and they’re all working well.’ In a live stream on X (formerly Twitter), Neuralink announced its progress in its quest to change the way neurological conditions are treated.

Experimental brain implants to treat disorders such as paralysis and ALS are at the forefront of development by Neuralink. While promising, these procedures involve complex surgeries that involve opening the skull to implant electrodes into brain tissue. Neuralink’s first human implantation in patient Noland Arbaugh was a year ago, kicking off its human trials.

The company is currently conducting two studies registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Prime Study, which involves up to five participants, aims to allow paralyzed people to control external devices, including computers or smartphones, using only their thoughts. The third trial, Convoy, involves three patients and tests the use of Neuralink’s technology to control assistive devices such as robotic arms.

Neuralink is looking ahead, and plans to do so very, very big, with 20 to 30 more implantations in 2025. These advancements highlight the increasing promise of brain-computer interfaces in enabling people to live better, and to push the limits of human technology integration.

Neuralink’s progress is one of a larger push in the neurotechnology sector to bridge the gap between the human brain and digital devices, with startups exploring new ways to do so. While there is still work to be done, these early successes show promise for using groundbreaking technology to tackle debilitating conditions.

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