Last month, Musk also mentioned on X that he believes there could be more than 1,000 people with Neuralink implants by 2026.
Neuralink officially implanted its first brain chip into patient Noland Arbaugh in January, following FDA approval to start clinical trials in May and the initiation of the recruitment process in September.
Before receiving the implant, Arbaugh had to use his mouth and a stylus to operate external devices. Now, with the Neuralink implant, he can control a computer mouse with his thoughts. Arbaugh has reported that this has empowered him to seek financial support for himself and his family for the first time since becoming quadriplegic, and he is eager to lessen his dependence on others.
In May, Neuralink received FDA approval to implant a device in a second patient, marking the first time the brain-computer interface (BCI) for this patient has been mentioned.
The study, called the Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface (PRIME) study, established conditions for participants last year, including:
- Patients with an active implanted device (such as a pacemaker or deep brain stimulator)
- Individuals with a history of seizures
- People who need MRIs for an ongoing medical condition
- Individuals receiving transcranial magnetic stimulation
Those interested in participating in the study can apply through Neuralink’s patient registry on their website.
