Elon Musk's Neuralink has announced the commencement of a feasibility trial aimed at enabling individuals with quadriplegia to control a robotic arm using a brain-computer interface (BCI). The study, named PRIME, will assess the safety and effectiveness of Neuralink's N1 Implant in conjunction with an assistive robotic arm.
The trial will include participants from the ongoing PRIME study and has received approval from Health Canada to recruit six patients with paralysis. In the U.S., Neuralink has successfully implanted the device in two patients, with one using it to play video games and browse the internet.
Neuralink's technology, which has been under development since 2016, aims to revolutionize human interaction with technology and address neurological disorders. The initial human trials began earlier this year with Noland Arbaugh, a quadriplegic volunteer who can control a computer cursor with his thoughts.
Neuralink's goal is to evaluate the safety of the implant and the effectiveness of the surgical robot performing the procedure. The company plans to expand its research to assess the interface's capabilities in controlling external devices.