The Food and Drug Administration has given Neuralink, a neurotech company that Elon Musk co-founded, approval to carry out its first-in-human clinical study.
Neuralink is developing a brain implant called the Link to allow people with severe paralysis to use neural signals to control external devices.
Neuralink is a company that’s helping to pioneer the brain-computer interface (BCI) market.
A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a device that decodes brain impulses and converts them into instructions for external technology.
This suggests that people with terminal degenerative illnesses like ALS may someday regain the ability to type and move cursors with their minds.
BCIs may one day assist treat conditions including blindness and mental disease in addition to helping those with paralysis, according to scientists.
BCI technology has been studied by scientists for many years, and various businesses have created promising products that they want to commercialize.
“This is the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA and represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people,” the company said in a tweet.
In a tweet, Neuralink stated that patient recruitment for their clinical trial is not yet open.
Patients who use Neuralink’s BCI must have invasive brain surgery. The Link, a tiny circular implant that interprets and transmits neurological signals, serves as the system’s hub.
The threads that are put into the brain tissue and used to monitor neural impulses are connected to The Link.
Patients who have Neuralink devices will learn how to use the Neuralink app to operate them.
Neuralink has recently faced a number of challenges, so the FDA’s permission for an in-human trial is a huge victory for the firm.
Until now, no BCI firm has received full approval from the FDA.
However, Neuralink has taken a step toward commercialization by getting the go-ahead for a study involving human participants.
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