What is Musk’s Neuralink: Will it be the best medical innovation of 21st century for paralysis patients?

Neuralink, a brain-chip startup of Elon Musk, is all set to begin the process of the first human trial of brain-computer interface (BCI) implant on paralysis patients. A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a computer-based system that acquires brain signals, analyzes them, and translates them into commands that are relayed to an output device to carry out a desired action. In principle, any type of brain signal could be used to control a BCI system. Read Here: About BCI as per National Library of Medicine

Neuralink brain-computer interface implantation will be done on paralysis patients who have lost their sensory nervous coordination due to injury or trauma, diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis), strokes, and specific medical procedures. Those with paralysis due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will be selected for the pre-clinical trial study, but Neuralink did not reveal how many participants would be enrolled. Also, Musk’s Neuralink BCI implant on paralysis patients will take about six years to complete.

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Recently, brain-chip implantation has received approval from an independent review board to begin recruitment for the first human-to-trial brain implant for paralysis patients. Earlier, Neuralink has requested for approval to implant its device in 10 patients. But now the company was negotiating on a lower number of patients with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Approval on the numbers of enrolled patients is under negotiations after the FDA has raised safety concerns, according to current and former employees. It is not known how many patients the FDA ultimately approved.

During the entire process of BCI implant, robotics and advanced AI ML algorithms to used. The high-end and future technology of medical surgery like Robot-Assisted Surgery, Minimally Invasive Techniques, Nanotechnology, High-speed, low-latency Remote Surgery, etc. will be implemented. 

The main intent behind the BCI implant surgery is to enable people to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone. 

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As per the experts, if Neuralink brain-chip implant is successful then with its mass-level adoption at a reasonable price will give new direction and vision to the current medical innovation. This new-age medical surgery is required to continually improve patient care, reduce risks, enhance precision, and adapt to evolving healthcare needs. These innovations help ensure that surgical procedures are safer, more effective, and more patient-centred, ultimately benefiting individuals and the healthcare system as a whole.