On Monday, Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Neuralink, announced on Twitter that the first human has successfully received an implant from the brain-chip startup and is currently recovering. This comes after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted clearance to Neuralink last year to conduct its initial trial on humans. Musk also mentioned that the early results indicate promising neuron spike detection. Neurons are cells that utilize electrical and chemical signals to transmit information within the brain and throughout the body, as described by the National Institute of Health. Neuralink’s Prime study aims to evaluate the safety of its wireless brain-computer interface and surgical robot. The study will assess the functionality of the interface, allowing individuals with quadriplegia to control devices using their thoughts. Further details from Neuralink are currently unavailable as they have not responded to requests. However, it was reported by Reuters that Neuralink faced fines for violating US Department of Transportation (DoT) rules related to the transportation of hazardous materials.
During inspections in February 2023, DoT investigators discovered that the company had failed to register as a transporter of hazardous material and had improper packaging of hazardous waste, including the flammable liquid Xylene. Xylene can cause various health issues, such as headaches, dizziness, confusion, loss of muscle coordination, and even death, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite this, Neuralink’s FDA clearance for its first human trial remains a significant achievement for the company, which was valued at up to $5 billion based on private stock trades. The implant trial was initially announced by Neuralink in September, and it involves the use of a robot developed by the company to perform the surgical placement of the implant.
