Elon Musk's Neuralink has received approval to begin a new feasibility study using a brain implant and a clinical trial-supporting robotic arm, the brainchip startup announced. Post to X on monday.
Neuralink is conducting the PRIME study, which aims to evaluate the safety of wireless brain-computer interfaces and surgical robots. We are evaluating the initial effects of an implant that controls external devices through thought in patients with quadriplegia, a type of paralysis.
The company said in a post on social media platform X that it plans to cross-enroll participants in a feasibility study from the ongoing PRIME trial.
The Food and Drug Administration and Neuralink did not immediately respond to requests for details of the feasibility study.
Last week, the company received approval from regulator Health Canada to begin testing its device in Canada. A Canadian neurosurgeon has received regulatory approval to partner with a start-up company and recruit six paralyzed patients for research.
In the United States, Neuralink has already implanted the device in two patients. This allowed the first patient to play video games, browse the Internet, post on social media, and move a cursor around a laptop.
The company said its device is working well in a second trial of patients who are using it to play video games and learn how to design 3D objects.
