Neuralink's Brain Implant Trials: Find Out Who Can Apply And How!

After over 100 days of clinical trials with its first participant, who received the Neuralink implant and underwent successful surgery, more applications for clinical trials are now being invited by Neuralink.

In an X post, Elon Musk, the neurotechnology company's boss, announced, "Applications for the second participant are being accepted by Neuralink. Our Telepathy cybernetic brain implant allows phone and computer control through thought alone." Paralyzed patients are aimed to be helped by Neuralink to control digital devices using their thoughts.

Photo Credit: X

How to apply for Neuralink trial?

The PRIME Study, an investigational medical device trial for Neuralink's fully-implantable, wireless brain-computer interface (BCI), is being conducted to assess the safety of the N1 implant and R1 surgical robot, as well as the initial functionality of the BCI for enabling individuals with quadriplegia to control external devices using their thoughts, as reported by Hindustan Times.

1. Eligibility criteria: Individuals within the United States or Canada, aged 18 or older, who have quadriplegia, paraplegia, vision loss, hearing loss, the inability to speak, and/or major limb amputation (above or below the elbow and/or knee), and who can provide consent, are invited to participate in the Patient Registry.

2. Registration process: Prospective participants can visit the Neuralink website or click [here](https://neuralink.com/patient-registry/) to register. Medical information, demographics, education, work details, and information about assistive technologies used will be requested. Medical records will be required for participation, and contact information for legally authorized representatives will also be requested if applicable, as per media reports.

3. Clinical trial enrollment: One clinical trial is currently available for enrollment in the United States by Neuralink. Participants meeting preliminary eligibility criteria based on the Patient Registry may be contacted for information about current and/or future clinical trials.

First clinical trial 'successful'

In January, the device was implanted by Neuralink in the brain of its first patient, Noland Arbaugh. Significant progress with the device has been experienced by Arbaugh, who has been paralyzed from the shoulders down since a diving accident in 2016, according to the company.

Through Neuralink's technology, video games can be played, the internet can be browsed, and a computer cursor on his laptop can be controlled by Arbaugh using only his thoughts. Neuralink reported that Arbaugh quickly surpassed the world record for cursor control speed after the surgery, as reported by Hindustan Times.

'Implant wires moved out of position'

Last week, it was revealed by Neuralink that the implant's tiny wires inside the brain of its first patient moved out of position during the first human trial, resulting in fewer electrodes measuring brain signals.

The company had known about this problem for years. Despite the risk being known from previous animal testing, US approval was still pursued by Neuralink last year. The chance of wire retraction was believed to be low, not warranting a redesign, as per media reports.

However, the implant's function was restored by the company through adjustments, including refining the algorithm to enhance sensitivity.