New Delhi: Neuralink Corp., the brain-computer interface company founded by Elon Musk, has successfully implanted its device in a third human patient and plans 20 to 30 more procedures in 2025, Musk announced this week.
“We’ve got now three humans with Neuralinks implanted and they’re all working well,” Musk said during an event in Las Vegas, streamed on X, his social media platform, according to Bloomberg.
In the U.S., Neuralink has implanted its device in two patients so far. The first recipient has been able to play video games, browse the internet, post on social media, and move a laptop cursor using his mind.
Neuralink is one of several startups exploring brain implants designed to treat neurological conditions such as paralysis and ALS. These experimental procedures often require surgeons to open the skull to place electrodes in brain tissue. Neuralink’s first human implant, performed a year ago, involved a patient named Noland Arbaugh.
The company currently has two studies registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Prime Study, involving up to five patients, is focused on enabling paralyzed individuals to control external devices like computers or smartphones using their thoughts. Another study, called Convoy, targets three patients and aims to help them operate devices like assistive robotic arms.
Neuralink uses a surgical robot to implant a brain-computer interface (BCI) into the part of the brain that controls movement intention. According to Neuralink, BCIs decode brain signals and translate them into commands for external technologies. The implant’s “ultra-fine” threads transmit brain signals, a feature the company highlights as a significant innovation.
Neuralink is not alone in this field. Companies like Synchron, Precision Neuroscience, Paradromics, and Blackrock Neurotech have developed similar systems aimed at enhancing communication and mobility for individuals with neurological conditions.
In November 2024, Neuralink announced approval for a feasibility study involving its brain implant and an experimental robotic arm. This is part of the ongoing PRIME Study, which evaluates the safety of its wireless BCI and surgical robot. The study focuses on patients with quadriplegia, enabling them to control external devices through thought alone.
As Neuralink progresses with its clinical trials and expands the use of brain-computer interfaces, the company moves closer to achieving its ambitious goal of revolutionizing neurotechnology.
