Neuralink, a company founded by Elon Musk, has reportedly received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implant its device into a second patient. The device, which consists of 64 threads thinner than a strand of human hair, will be implanted even deeper into the brain in order to prevent them from moving out of place.
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Neuralink is planning to conduct its next implant in June and a total of 10 implants are scheduled for this year. Elon Musk announced that applications were open for a second participant to receive the implant.
The FDA, however, declined to disclose any information related to Neuralink's Investigational Device Exemption application or study under an IDE. Neuralink has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
The first patient to receive an implant, Noland Arbaugh, experienced initial success in controlling a computer cursor with his thoughts to communicate and play games. However, after a month, the device became less effective as 85% of the threads inserted into his motor cortex had retracted due to brain movement.
Although Neuralink initially considered removing the implant, the remaining threads eventually stabilized and the company issued software changes to improve its effectiveness. In the upcoming trial, wires will be implanted 8 millimeters deep into the brain, compared to the 3 to 5 millimeters in Arbaugh's case.
Overall, Neuralink is moving forward with its research and development, aiming to improve the functionality and reliability of its brain implant technology for individuals with disabilities like quadriplegia.