Elon Musk, the founder of Neuralink, recently revealed that the company has successfully completed its second human implantation of a Neuralink cybernetic implant. Speaking on a podcast hosted by computer scientist Lex Fridman, Musk described the procedure as a success, noting that the implant is performing exceptionally well with significant signal acquisition and functionality.
Elon Musk
Musk highlighted that Neuralink’s future plans involve major advancements, including increasing the number of electrodes and enhancing signal processing. These electrodes, which are crucial for capturing brain signals, transmit data wirelessly to a Neuralink application on an external device, such as a computer.
Neuralink’s implant is designed to be fully implantable, invisible, and capable of controlling computers or mobile devices seamlessly. However, the second implantation had been delayed from June due to a medical issue with the originally scheduled patient, according to Michael Lawton, CEO of the Barrow Neurological Institute.
The first human recipient of a Neuralink implant was quadriplegic Noland Arbaugh, who underwent the procedure earlier this year as part of a clinical trial. Arbaugh reported improvements in his quality of life, including the ability to play video games and surf the Internet. Despite some technical issues, such as losing control of the cursor, Arbaugh expressed positive experiences with the device.
The second recipient also had a spinal cord injury, Musk confirmed during the podcast.
Neurosurgeon Matthew MacDougall, who appeared on Fridman’s podcast, described the Neuralink surgery as straightforward. The procedure involves making a small incision in the scalp, creating a hole in the skull, and using a robot to insert tiny electrodes into the brain’s cortex. The robot ensures precise placement to avoid blood vessels, and the final steps involve securing the implant and stitching up the incision. The entire process typically takes a few hours.
