MIAMI, Fla. (WFLA) — Doctors have implanted the first microchip backed by Elon Musk into a patient’s brain at WTVJ, NBC affiliate at Florida Hospital.
The news station reported that clinical trials are giving people paralyzed their ability to control their phones and computers in their minds.
“I think my favorite is being able to turn on my TV,” said RJ, a clinical trial participant.
Dr. Jonathan Jagid, UHealth professor in clinical neurosurgery, told WTVJ that RJ suffered a cervical spinal cord injury that caused him to paralyze him due to a crash on his bike.
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He is one of a handful of participants taking part in the clinical trial that began last year.
All patients during the study suffered from spinal cord injury or ALS. A microchip called Neuralink is embedded in the brain. The device is about the size of a coin.
“This device is completely invisible to others who interact with the person who implants it. Another thing that makes it very unique is the way it’s miniaturized. It’s a very small device,” Dr. Jagid told WTVJ.
A summer trial update for Neuralink showed that one participant was moving the cursor in his own thoughts.
“I mean, these are people who can’t even move the mouse, right? So you need to realize that in that early stage, it’s really successful.
For more information about clinical trials, please visit the Neuralink website.
