Neuralink Successfully Conducts Second Human Brain Implant, Overcomes Previous Complications

Elon Musk’s brain computer company, Neuralink, has successfully conducted a surgery for its brain implant in a human. This is the second brain implant done by Neuralink, and it said that it “went well." After the implant, the patient is able to design 3D objects and play video games like Counter-Strike 2.

This time, the procedure successfully avoided the complication that occurred with the first patient, Noland Arbaugh, who experienced the issue of electrode threads retracting from his brain.

Neuralink shared in a blog post that "to reduce the probability of thread retraction in our second participant, we implemented a number of mitigations, including reducing brain motion during the surgery and reducing the gap between the implant and the surface of the brain.” However, it should be noted that in the case of the first implant done on Arbaugh, Neuralink implemented post-operative software adjustments that also alleviated the problem.

Neuralink further mentioned in a blog post, “These capabilities would not only help restore digital autonomy for those who are unable to use their limbs, but also restore the ability to communicate for those who are unable to speak, such as people with neurological conditions.”

The company stated that it is developing new features for its brain interface device, known as Link, which currently enables patients to manage on-screen pointers and electronic devices, step by step. In the future, Link will be capable of interpreting multiple concurrent movement intentions and identifying handwriting intentions to assist patients in writing more efficiently.

The blog post revealed the second patient's first name, Alex, and described him as a former automotive mechanic who experienced a spinal cord injury. The Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix discharged him just one day after the surgical procedure. Alex is now capable of utilising computer-aided design software to create a custom holder for his Neuralink charger, according to the company.

Musk expressed his aspiration to have the device implanted in several additional patients by the end of the year. These individuals are participants in Neuralink's Prime study, an experimental medical device trial.