lucadelladora – Neuralink has attracted interest from 10,000 individuals eager to try its N1 brain implant, says President and Co-Founder Dongjin (DJ) Seo. So far, the company has implanted the N1 device in 12 clinical trial participants and expects to increase this number to 25 by the end of the year. People with cervical spinal cord injuries or ALS who have limited or no hand movement can sign up online for trial consideration.
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Elon Musk co-founded Neuralink, but Seo manages daily operations. In a recent private client report for Morgan Stanley, Seo shared key insights about the implant’s usage and performance. The 12 patients with N1 implants use the device for an average of 7.5 hours per day. One exceptional user spends over 100 hours weekly, around 14 hours daily, actively using the implant.
This power user may be Noland Arbaugh, Neuralink’s first patient. Arbaugh described using the implant daily for tasks like emails, website editing, writing, research, banking, and housekeeping. He views the device as a vital tool for independent living.
Seo also highlighted Neuralink’s impressive latency advantage. The time between a user’s intention and system output is about ten times faster than natural brain-to-muscle response. This speed allows the computer to respond quicker than the user expects. Seo humorously suggested that Neuralink patients might soon win Olympic eSports medals due to these enhanced reflexes.
The N1 implant runs on Neuralink’s Telepathy software platform. This software reads electrical signals from the implant’s ultra-fine electrodes, interpreting movements or speech. It wirelessly transmits decoded signals to a computer app, which performs actions on the user’s behalf.
Overall, Neuralink combines advanced hardware with sophisticated software to create a unique brain-computer interface experience. While still in early clinical stages, these developments signal promising potential for people with severe motor impairments.
Surgical Innovation and Regulatory Challenges
Neuralink’s hardware sets it apart from other brain-computer interface companies. Seo emphasized that their robotic surgical system, designed to implant the N1 device, is a major differentiator. The robot drills into the patient’s skull and inserts ultra-fine electrode threads with micron-level precision. This invasive approach contrasts with rival Synchron’s less invasive method.
Neuralink built its surgical robot from the start to address scalability challenges. Seo explained that a limited number of neurosurgeons could hinder expansion, so automation is essential. Musk also predicted that robots would soon surpass human surgeons in speed and precision, citing Neuralink’s need for robotic assistance as human hands cannot meet the required accuracy.
However, the robot only automates the most delicate part of the procedure. Neurosurgeons still perform the craniotomy, position the device, and supervise the robot during implantation. They also manage patient safety, anesthesia, and clinical decisions throughout the surgery.
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At a recent brain-computer interface conference, Dr. Michael Lawton confirmed his role in performing Neuralink surgeries. He warned about the risks of invasive brain surgery and noted he would not currently implant healthy individuals.
Despite Neuralink’s goal to expand access to the general population, regulatory approval remains a major hurdle. No brain implant, including Neuralink’s, has FDA approval for commercial sale. They are only available within clinical trials. Some experts, like Synchron’s CEO Tom Oxley, expect approvals within a few years, but widespread availability is still far off. Neuralink’s progress illustrates significant advances in brain-computer interface technology. However, the path to safe, approved use by the broader public remains cautious and carefully regulated.
