Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-chip company, aims to enroll three patients to evaluate its device in a study expected to take several years to complete, according to details on the U.S. government’s clinical trials database.
The company had sought to enroll 10 patients when it applied to U.S. regulators to begin clinical trials, Reuters reported last year.
Company faced criticism
Before Neuralink posted details of its trial this week, the company faced criticism from brain implant researchers and former regulatory officials for not sharing information about the study, as is common in the industry.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which approved the clinical trial, said it generally likes companies to publish information about their studies to enhance public trust and honor patients who participate.
According to eligibility criteria posted on the database, patients must have limited mobility without improvement for at least one year, with a life expectancy greater than or equal to 12 months.
Neuralink has for years fielded calls from interested patients, well before the company received approval last year to begin conducting trials in people, Neuralink sources said.
Study uses robot
The study uses a robot to surgically place a brain-computer interface (BCI) implant in a region of the brain that controls the intention to move, Neuralink had said.
In January, Neuralink implanted the device in the brain of its first patient, Noland Arbaugh, who is paralyzed from the shoulders down due to a 2016 diving accident.
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Source: Reuters
