Elon Musk’s Neuralink Receives FDA Approval For Revolutionary Brain Implant

September 18, 2024

2 minute read

Elon Musk’s brain-chip startup, Neuralink, has secured the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) coveted “Breakthrough Device” designation for its experimental brain implant, Blindsight.

This milestone marks a significant leap forward in Neuralink’s mission to restore vision in individuals with complete or partial blindness, including those with non-functional optic nerves.

The FDA’s breakthrough designation is reserved for medical devices that address severe or life-threatening conditions, accelerating their development and approval processes. Neuralink announced the achievement on its X page, inviting patients to join their registry and apply for positions within the company.

The Chief Executive Officer of space X, Elon Musk, sharing the news on his social media account, emphasized Blindsight’s revolutionary potential, stating that it will enable individuals who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see.

He noted that the device could even allow those who have been blind from birth to see for the first time, provided the visual cortex is intact.

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Musk cautioned that initial vision through Blindsight might be low resolution, similar to early video game graphics, but highlighted its potential to eventually surpass natural vision.

The device could enable vision in various wavelengths, including infrared and ultraviolet, similar to the fictional Geordi La Forge from “Star Trek.”

Neuralink, co-founded by Elon Musk in 2016, focuses on pioneering brain-computer interfaces aimed at revolutionizing the treatment of neurological conditions.

The company’s flagship technology features a brain implant that decodes neural signals and transmits them wirelessly to external devices such as computers and smartphones.

This breakthrough designation brings Neuralink one step closer to making its vision-restoring technology a reality.

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