A new milestone for Elon Musk’s Neuralink chips. After implanting its first patients last January and August with a chip capable of capturing brain activity to interpret it, the company wants to go a little further.
As reported by Reuters, this Monday, November 25, the brain implant company announced that it had received authorization to start a study to test its implant for a new use: allowing a paralyzed person to control a robotic arm using only their thoughts.
“Restore digital and physical freedom”
“This is an important step toward restoring not only digital freedom, but physical freedom as well,” the company continues. At this time, no additional details about the robotic arm study are available on the Neuralink website or on Clinicaltrials.gov, an online repository of medical studies involving human participants.
Neuralink’s current chip allows patients to control computer cursors, iPads or similar digital tools. The applications of a device of this type are numerous. For Elon Musk, neural implants should ultimately make it possible to create chips to fight obesity, autism, but also depression and schizophrenia.
In the United States, the company has already implanted the device in two patients, both with spinal cord injuries. Noland ArbaughThe first patient was able, thanks to the chip, to play chess or even Mario Kart. However, he encountered some difficulties because the implant’s wires retract into your brain. Neuralink has since made changes to its implant to address these issues.
The second patient, Alex, received the implant last July. The latter was able to play the famous shooting game. Counterattack 2thanks to your implant. He also managed to create 3D objects using computer-aided design software.
Source: BFM TV
