In summary, after successfully implanting the device in a second patient, Elon Musk intends to give brain chip implants to eight additional patients in 2024.
Patients who are paralyzed can utilize digital devices by thinking with Neuralink’s technology.
In 2024, eight more patients will receive brain chip implants from Elon Musk’s neurotechnology business, Neuralink. This comes after a second patient had the gadget successfully implanted. Patients who are paralyzed can now utilize digital devices just by thinking thanks to Neuralink’s product.
Musk said that the second patient, like the first, suffers a spinal cord injury in a podcast that was made public on Friday. After being paralyzed in a diving accident, the first patient, Noland Arbaugh, was able to use the implant to move a cursor on his laptop, play video games, browse the internet, and post on social media.
Musk claims that the 400 electrodes in the second patient’s implant appear to be operating properly. Neuralink’s website states that the implant uses 1,024 electrodes in total.
Musk told podcast host Lex Fridman, “I don’t want to jinx it, but it seems to have gone extremely well with the second implant.” There are numerous electrodes and a lot of signal. It’s functioning flawlessly.
Arbaugh, the initial patient, also talked about his experience on the program. He had to tap the screen of a tablet device with a stick in his mouth prior to getting the implant in January. He can now operate the computer screen by simply thinking about what he wants to happen thanks to the implant, which greatly increases his independence and lessens his dependency on caregivers.
At first, Arbaugh had problems because his implant’s small wires retracted, lowering the number of electrodes that could detect impulses in his brain. By increasing the algorithm’s sensitivity, this issue—which was previously noted in Neuralink’s animal experiments—was resolved.Even though just 10 to 15 percent of the electrodes are functioning, Arbaugh has subsequently surpassed his previous world record for the fastest time he can move a cursor with his thoughts.
Musk stated that Neuralink hopes to add eight more people to their clinical trials this year, although he did not specify when the second patient’s procedure would take place. In order to give those with spinal cord injuries greater control over digital gadgets and their surroundings, the device will undergo further testing and development.
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