Elon Musk's Neuralink facing tiny wire issues for years
Elon Musk's company, Neuralink, has been grappling with issues related to tiny wires in its brain implants, retracting out of position for years, Reuters has reported. The potential problem was discovered during animal testing conducted prior to US approval last year. Despite being aware of this issue, Neuralink did not consider a redesign necessary as they deemed the risk low enough.
A potential breakthrough for paralysis
Neuralink is developing an implant designed to provide paralyzed patients with the ability to use digital devices through thought alone. This could be a significant breakthrough for individuals suffering from spinal cord injuries. However, during its first human trial, the implant's tiny wires, slimmer than a human hair, retracted from a patient's brain, resulting in fewer electrodes available to measure brain signals.
Neuralink's response to wire retraction issue
Neuralink managed to restore the implant's power to monitor brain signals, by making changes, including modifying its algorithm to be even more sensitive. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was aware of the possible issue with the wires, as Neuralink had shared the animal test results as part of its application to begin human trials. The company could face problems if more wires pull out and its algorithm adjustment proves insufficient.
Neuralink's first patient: A paralyzed man's experience
In January 2024, Neuralink implanted the device in its first patient, Noland Arbaugh, who is paralyzed from the shoulders down, due to a diving accident in 2016. In the weeks following surgery, "a number of threads retracted from the brain," according to a blog update from Neuralink last week. Despite these issues, Arbaugh was able to play video games, browse the web, and move a computer cursor on his laptop by thinking alone.
