Neuralink- A brain interface to restore autonomy to those with unmet medical needs today and boost human capabilities tomorrow.

September 19, 2023 

Elon Musk's brain implant startup Neuralink has opened recruitment for its first-ever human trial according to its company blog. After receiving approval from the independent institutional review board, Neuralink is set to commence human trials by offering brain implants to patients as a part of the PRIME study.

                                                                                                        source: www.unilad.com

                         

PRIME is an acronym for Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface which refers to the study that aims to evaluate the safety of the implant and surgical robot. This study will allow them to understand the needs of a larger and more diverse group of individuals with various conditions.

For now, Participation can only be done by anyone within the United States who is at least 18 years old i.e. able to consent, and who has quadriplegia, paraplegia, vision loss, hearing loss, inability to speak, and major limb amputation. In this study, participants will be asked about their current and past medical information, demographics, education, work, and the assistive technologies they use. Participants will also be asked for their consent regarding the disclosure of their medical records. Similarly, participants will always have the option of withdrawing their consent by reaching out to their mail.

Although there are many controversies attached to this startup, there is no denying that the success of this project can aid millions of people with various medical needs and might also unleash the true potential of the human mind.