Neuralink expands to Canada with two successful brain implants for patients with spinal injuries
It's hit a major milestone The post Neuralink expands to Canada with two successful brain implants for patients with spinal injuries appeared first on Supercar Blondie.
Neuralink has expanded into Canada, with the University Health Network (UHN) announcing the successful implantation in two patients with cervical spinal cord injuries.
The two procedures were performed in Toronto on August 27 and September 3.
It’s a major milestone for Neuralink as the two surgeries are the first to be performed outside of the US.
The surgeries are part of a clinical trial called the CAN-PRIME Study (Canadian Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface).
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The brain implants have been used in Canada for the first time
Neuralink’s implantable brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) have been around since 2016.
The smart tech company’s goal was to create chips to help people living with life-altering diseases, such as ALS, as well as those with spinal cord injuries.
Last month, Neuralink, which was founded by Tesla boss Elon Musk, announced a new milestone after announcing it had successfully completed two surgeries in one day for the first time.
Just a few weeks on, it has hit another important breakthrough after implanting Neuralink chips in two Canadian patients.
“We are incredibly proud to be at the forefront of this revolutionary advancement in neurosurgery,” Surgeon-in-Chief at University Health Network, Dr. Thomas Forbes, said.
“This achievement reflects the dedication and expertise of our world-leading surgical and research teams, and our commitment to delivering the most innovative and effective treatments for patients.”
The surgeries are part of CAN-PRIME Study clinical trial, which is still open to ‘individuals with limited or no ability to use both hands due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)’.
“It’s a profound honour to be a part of this breakthrough research and to lead Canada’s first Neuralink surgeries,” Alan and Susan Hudson Cornerstone Chair in Neurosurgery at University Health Network, Dr. Lozano said.
“This milestone represents a convergence of neuroscience, engineering, and clinical care. I’m proud of our talented team for helping push the boundaries of what’s possible for patients with paralysis.
“The patients who volunteered to be the first in Canada are remarkable individuals, making significant contributions to advancing science and healthcare.”
What’s next for Neuralink?
Alongside expanding into Canada and launching similar clinical trials in the United Kingdom, Neuralink is already planning its next move.
The company is currently working on a new device called Blindsight, which could potentially enable blind people whose visual cortex is undamaged to regain some level of vision.
In a thread on X back in November 2023, Musk said the Blindsight chips were already working in monkey test subjects.
“I should mention that the Blindsight implant is already working in monkeys,” he wrote.
“Resolution will be low at first, like early Nintendo graphics, but ultimately may exceed normal human vision.
“(Also, no monkey has died or been seriously injured by a Neuralink device!).”
As yet, it’s unclear when testing will be introduced in humans, but given the success of Neuralink’s current BCIs it might not be too long.The post Neuralink expands to Canada with two successful brain implants for patients with spinal injuries appeared first on Supercar Blondie.
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