Neuralink reports successful second brain implant procedure

Neuralink, the brain-computer company backed and owned by Elon Musk, has made it cleared that the surgery carried out for its second brain implant in a human “went well” and the patient can now design 3D objects and play video games like Counter-Strike 2. In early August 2024, the Elon Musk's Neuralink announced that has successfully implanted a brain chip in a second patient and plans to conduct eight more trials later this year despite the fact that the company is still pending regulatory approval.

The company also cited that its first patient has used it to play video games, browse the internet, post on social media, and control a laptop cursor. However, this second procedure appears to have successfully avoids the complication experienced by the first patient, where electrode threads retracted from the brain.

According to Neuralink in a blogpost, the company cited that to minimize thread retraction in the second participant, the it's implemented measures like reducing brain motion during surgery and minimizing the gap between the implant and the brain surface. Meanwhile, it also worth noting that Neuralink addressed the issue in Arbaugh's case - the first patient - by making post-surgical software adjustments.

Neuralink said it's currently developing new features for its brain interface device, Link, which currently allows patients to control digital devices by moving an on-screen cursor - click-by-click precisely.

In the future, Link would be designed to decode more complex movements and recognize handwriting, helping patients communicate and interact with technology more efficiently. These advancements aim to restore digital independence for those with severe movement limitations and give a voice to individuals who cannot speak due to neurological conditions.

The Link device is currently designed for patients with conditions like quadriplegia. One of the patients, Alex, a former automotive technician who suffered a spinal cord injury, successfully underwent surgery and left the hospital a day later. He is now able to use design software to create a custom mount for his Neuralink charger. Elon Musk hopes to expand the use of the device to more patients by the end of the year as part of Neuralink's Prime study, an investigational medical trial.