Neuralink, Elon Musk's project, has been dealing with the problems of its tiny wires for a long time.
Neuralink's recent revelation of the interference of the tiny wires in the brain of its first patient has brought to the attention the problem that is still going on within the company. Though the Invention is still quite new, the signs that Neuralink knew of the possibility of wire displacement for several years are already clear. This knowledge is the result of the huge amount of animal testing that was carried out before the company obtained the permission for human trials in the US.
The animal testing carried out by the company showed that there was a danger of the wire retraction, a phenomenon that could cause the sensitive electrodes that are responsible for the decoding of brain signals to be removed. Nevertheless, Neuralink considered the risk to be minor and so no major redesign of the implant was made. This decision points to the delicate line between the pursuit of new medical inventions and the reduction of the related risks that are involved in the development of the new medical technology.
Neuralink is mainly concerned with the creation of neural implants that will enable paralyzed people to use digital devices with their thoughts only. The ambitious goal of this project has innumerable possibilities for improving the life quality of people with spinal cord injuries, so they can be independent and have the freedom to do everything by themselves.
In its latest news, Neuralink informed that the wired implant which is thinner than a human hair had successfully retracted from the patient's brain during the first human trial. This situation led to a decrease in the number of electrodes that were fitted to the heads to measure brain signals. Nonetheless, the company succeeded in the resurrection of the implant's functionality by making the necessary modifications, among which was the tweaking of the algorithm to increase the sensitivity.
Nevertheless, the advantages of these developments have been aired, but the possible implications of the wire displacement have been the subject of the concerns. Further wire compression could be a threat for the success of the implant and also make the future trials very hard. If the present algorithm changes do not meet the requirements, Neuralink will be obliged to rethink its approach and to look for new design ideas.
Nevertheless, the re-engineering of the implant is also a burden of its own and thus, is accompanied by the risks. The wires that are mounted securely inside the brain could be the solution of the displacement but at the same time, they could also have a greater chance of causing brain tissue damage during the implantation or removal. Neuralink is looking for ways that will allow it to protect people while at the same time preserve the opportunity to move and adapt as technology develops.
The recent case relating to Neuralink's first patient, Noland Arbaugh, enables us to understand the real-life impact of these developments. Arbaugh, because of his diving accident, became paralyzed from the shoulders down and thus, got the implant earlier this year. After the surgery, some of the implanted threads started to come back to his brain, making the Neuralink team to change their approach.
Although these difficulties are still present, Arbaugh's impression of the implant is, in the majority, good. He has managed to get back some of his autonomy, doing things such as playing video games, browsing the internet, and controlling a computer cursor. The success of Neuralink in the cases of Arby shows that their technology has the potential to change people's lives.
The way to innovation is not always easy, and Neuralink is not being exception to it. The company had trouble at first when the FDA raised concerns about the safety of the threads, which in turn resulted in the postponement of the human trials. Later animal testing turned out the cases of the brain inflammation, which made the way clear to go on the path further.
Neuralink's dedication to solving these problems shows in its continuous endeavor to make its implants safer and more effective. The company has started a detailed research to find out the real reason behind the problems and, thus, proved themselves as a transparent and accountable organization.
The difficulties and the unknown factors that come with the creation of neural implants are still there, but the advantages for the people with neurological conditions that will be huge. The breakthrough innovations of Neuralink are a phenomenal progress in the search to use technology for the improvement of mankind. The business keeps on improving its technology and coping with the rules and regulations and thus, the possibility of the return of mobility and independence for the people who suffer from spinal cord injuries gets closer and closer.
