Neuralink’s Brain Computer Interface Understanding First in Human Trials and Future Applications
1. What Is Neuralink’s Brain Computer Interface? Neuralink’s core technology is the N1 implant: a coin sized, wireless device embedded flush with the skull, connected to the brain via up to 96 ultra-thin polymer “threads” carrying over a thousand electrodes. These electrodes record neural spikes and can stimulate specific brain regions. A custom surgical robot places the threads with micron-scale precision, minimizing tissue damage. The implant streams neural data over Bluetooth to an external receiver and is powered wirelessly, eliminating bulky batteries. 2. Timeline of First-in-Human Trials May 2023: FDA grants an Investigational Device Exemption, greenlighting the first clinical trial after addressing safety concerns around batteries and wire migration. September 2023: Recruitment opens for the PRIME study, targeting participants with quadriplegia due to ALS or cervical spinal cord injury. January 2024: The first human patient, later revealed as 30 year old ...