Neuralink, a brain-computer interface company founded by Elon Musk, has been granted approval by Health Canada to start recruiting participants for its first clinical trial in the country. This marks a notable advancement for Neuralink in its objective to develop technology that aids individuals with paralysis in controlling external devices using mental commands.
The Canadian trial will be conducted at the University Health Network hospital in Toronto, where complex neurosurgical procedures will be performed. The trial will concentrate on assessing the safety and initial capabilities of the implant for those with quadriplegia, a condition involving paralysis of all four limbs. The aim is to restore some level of independence for users by enabling them to control digital devices through thought alone.
This initiative parallels efforts by Neuralink in the United States, where two patients have already been implanted with the device under the Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface Study. The study’s goal is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this technology in individuals with severe motor impairments. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the start of human trials in May 2023, leading to the first trial participant, Noland Arbaugh, receiving his implant in January 2024.
Neuralink reported that by August 2024, a second participant, referred to as “Alex,” had received his implant and had been making strides in using computer-aided design software and playing video games.
Since 2017, Neuralink has conducted tests on various animals, including monkeys, pigs, and sheep.
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— Read More: thenationalpulse.com
