Neuralink was aware of brain implant issue years before first human trial

Concerns about wire retraction might pose a problem for Neuralink’s brain implant design. The business is testing an implant that will allow paralysed individuals to operate digital gadgets solely with their thoughts.

Neuralink has disclosed that there were problems with their initial human experiment. According to a new revelation, the corporation may have known about these problems for years, as reported by Reuters. Patients who are disabled can operate digital gadgets simply by thinking about the task at hand thanks to a brain implant.

A major failure occurred in the first trial when the implant’s minuscule wires, which are thinner than human hair, withdrew from the brain of the patient in the experiment. As a result, there were fewer electrodes needed to record brain impulses. By tweaking the algorithm to be more sensitive, the business was able to bring the implant’s monitoring capabilities back.

According to the study, because Neuralink had disclosed the findings of its animal studies, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was aware of this possible problem.

Noland Arbaugh became the first patient of Neuralink in January after the gadget was implanted in his brain. Several threads withdrew from Arbaugh’s brain after the procedure, but no negative health repercussions were noted.

Since then, Arbaugh has developed the ability to use his thoughts alone to control a laptop’s mouse, play video games, and browse the internet.

According to the study, Neuralink was first turned down by the FDA in 2022 due to safety concerns over the threads. However, after more animal research, Neuralink was given permission to start human testing.

The business also found that some pigs implanted with their technology experienced granulomas, which are inflammations of the brain. The business came to the conclusion that the device and threads were not the source of the inflammation, notwithstanding a serious instance in one pig.

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Elon Musk’s brain-chip company, Neuralink, was reportedly aware of issues with its brain implant technology years before conducting its first human trial. According to sources, internal testing on animals had already revealed potential complications, raising concerns about the implant’s long-term reliability and safety.

The primary issue involved the implant’s ultra-thin wires, which were found to shift inside the brain over time. This movement could lead to signal disruptions and potential malfunctions, affecting the device’s ability to accurately interpret neural signals. Despite these findings, Neuralink proceeded with human trials, aiming to push forward its ambitious brain-computer interface (BCI) technology.

Neuralink has defended its approach, stating that continuous improvements and real-world testing are essential for innovation in neurotechnology. However, critics argue that unresolved technical concerns pose risks to human participants and call for greater transparency in the company’s research process.

Regulatory agencies are closely monitoring Neuralink’s trials to ensure compliance with safety standards. While the technology has the potential to revolutionize neuroprosthetics and brain-machine interfaces, addressing these early issues remains crucial for its long-term success and widespread adoption.

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