Neuralink Gets Approval To Put Chip Inside Human Brain

The FDA has approved Elon Musk’s brain-implant company Neuralink, for its first in-human clinical trial.

Neuralink’s technology works primarily through an implant named the "Link". This device is about the same size as five stacked coins and would be placed in the brain through invasive surgery.

The brain implants created by Neuralink are envisioned to treat a variety of conditions including obesity, autism, schizophrenia, and depression. 

FDA raised many concerns with Neuralink before sanctioning human tests. The FDA was concerned about the possibility that the wires of the implant could migrate within the brain.

Neuralink is planning to open clinics in which surgical robots will implant devices into patients' brains. The robot surgeon inserts Neuralink’s proprietary electrodes or brain-signal recording cables into the patient's brain. 

In April 2021, the company released a clip showing that a monkey with two Neuralink devices implanted could play Pong videogame using his brain alone.

Neuralink said that the recruitment for the human clinical trial is not open yet, and it will announce more information regarding this soon.