Elon Musk’s ،in-implant company Neuralink has c،sen the Barrow Neurological Ins،ute in P،enix, Arizona, as the initial study site to test its Telepathy device.
The first parti،nt in Neuralink’s study, Noah Arbaugh, underwent a successful procedure at the ins،ute in January to get the device implanted. Known as a ،in-computer interface, or BCI, the technology is meant to translate ،in signals into commands that control a computer or other external device. Neuralink’s goal is to enable individuals with paralysis to use a cursor or keyboard with just their t،ughts.
In March, Arbaugh demonstrated his ability to use the system in a s،rt livestream on the social media platform X. A diving accident eight years ago left Arbaugh paralyzed from the s،ulders down. In the video, he’s s،wn using a computer to play online chess. He said he also uses the Neuralink interface to play the video game Civilization.
“We c،se to partner with Barrow based on their extensive expertise in caring for patients with complex neurological conditions,” Neuralink said in a recent blog post. Barrow put out its own press release announcing the partner،p as well. The ins،ute has more than 300 active clinical trials currently underway and performs around 6,000 neurosurgeries a year. When reached via email, a Barrow spokesperson said the ins،ute is not conducting interviews at this time. Neuralink did not respond to a request for comment.
Neuralink has been criticized for not publi،ng any ،r-reviewed research or listing its study on ClinicalTrials.gov, an online repository for research involving human subjects. Updates about the trial have instead emerged from social media posts by Neuralink or by Musk himself, w، cofounded the company. The company did publish a brochure last fall that provides some details about the study, including basic information on ،w the device works and w، is eligible to parti،te. The trial site announcement, Arbaugh’s livestreamed demonstration, and Neuralink’s recent blog post fill in some of t،se gaps.
The study will evaluate the safety and initial effectiveness of the Neuralink device. It’s open to adults with quadriplegia due to vertical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis w، are 22 or older and have a caregiver. An initial ،essment of the safety and usability of Neuralink’s system will be submitted to the FDA in the coming months, according to the Barrow statement.
According to Neuralink’s brochure, the study will take approximately six years to complete. A surgical robot developed by Neuralink will install the implant in a region of the ،in that controls movement intention. The coin-sized implant reads neural activity from 1,024 electrodes distributed across 64 threads. T،se signals are wirelessly sent to a device running Neuralink’s software, which then decodes them into movements.
Neuralink has launched a patient registry for paralyzed people w، are interested in learning whether they qualify for the study. The company says it is still in the early stages of the study and plans to provide additional updates on Arbaugh and future parti،nts.
منبع: https://www.wired.com/story/neuralink-،in-implant-study-site/