Neuralink, Elon Musk’s neurotech startup developing a technology that helps paralysis patients to interact through neuro-signals, has announced it has commenced recruiting patients for its first in-human clinical trial.
In a blogpost on Tuesday, Neural link said it has officially opened the window for patients to register for its PRIME Study, following an approval from the Food and Drug Administration in May to conduct its first in-human clinical study.
The post reads in part: “We are happy to announce that we’ve received approval from the reviewing independent institutional review board and our first hospital site to begin recruitment for our first-in-human clinical trial.
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”The PRIME Study (short for Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface) – a groundbreaking investigational medical device trial for our fully-implantable, wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) – aims to evaluate the safety of our implant (N1) and surgical robot (R1) and assess the initial functionality of our BCI for enabling people with paralysis to control external devices with their thoughts.”
“The initial goal of our BCI is to grant people the ability to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone.” Neurallink stated in its post.
CNBC reported that patients who participate in the trial will have to undergo invasive brain surgery.
According to CNBC, Neuralink’s brain implant tech aims to help people with severe paralysis control external technologies using only neural signals. This means “patients with severe degenerative diseases like ALS could eventually regain their ability to communicate with loved ones by moving cursors and typing with their minds.”
“Neuralink is part of the emerging brain-computer interface, or BCI, industry, which centers on systems that decipher brain signals and translate them into commands for external technologies. Several companies have developed promising systems that they hope to bring to market, but Neuralink is perhaps the best-known name in the space due to Musk himself, who is CEO of both Tesla and SpaceX.
“As of September, no BCI company has managed to clinch the FDA’s final seal of approval. But by receiving the go-ahead to recruit for a study with human patients, Neuralink is one step closer” CNBC reported.
