Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface (BCI) company, has received the FDA’s “breakthrough device” designation for its innovative ‘Blindsight’ implant.
The ‘Blindsight’ implant is designed to give hope to individuals with severe visual impairments, offering the possibility of restoring sight by connecting the brain directly to digital interfaces.
With the FDA’s breakthrough designation, this cutting-edge technology is quickly advancing through the approval process, underscoring its potential to transform the lives of those living with blindness. Neuralink’s innovative approach could redefine what is currently possible in vision restoration and brain-computer interfaces.
“The Blindsight device from Neuralink will enable even those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see,” Musk said in a posting on X on Tuesday. “Provided the visual cortex is intact, it will even enable those who have been blind from birth to see for the first time.”
“To set expectations correctly, the vision will at first be low resolution, like Atari graphics, but eventually it has the potential to be better than natural vision and enable you to see in infrared, ultraviolet or even radar wavelengths, like Geordi La Forge,” says Musk.
Musk ended his post with a tribute photo of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Chief Engineer, Geordi La Forge, who was blind since birth and portrayed in the series by actor LeVar Burton, wearing high-tech glasses called VISOR (Visual Instrument and Sight Organ Replacement).
The Blindsight device from Neuralink will enable even those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see.
Provided the visual cortex is intact, it will even enable those who have been blind from birth to see for the first time.
To set expectations correctly, the vision… https://t.co/MYLHNcPrw6 pic.twitter.com/RAenDpd3fx
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 17, 2024
The FDA’s breakthrough designation is awarded to a few medical devices that offer treatment or diagnosis for life-threatening conditions. It aims to accelerate the development and review process and help more people quickly.
Since the launch of Neuralink in 2016, Musk and his team have designed and implanted BCI chips in animals in the initial phases, and they have now progressed to humans.
On January 29, 2024, Noland Arbaugh made history as the first recipient of Neuralink’s groundbreaking brain implant, “The Link,” during clinical trials. The 30-year-old quadriplegic, paralyzed from the shoulders down due to a diving accident, volunteered for the procedure. Since then, the device has granted him remarkable “cyborg” abilities, enabling him to control technologies like playing Mario Kart and Chess with just his mind.
Noland Arbaugh took X on August 29 to update his followers on his progress. He mentioned using the brain chip to learn new languages, such as Japanese and French. “In my free time, Eve (what I’ve named my Neuralink device) and I have been working towards improving myself in many different ways. Currently, I’m learning French and Japanese for roughly three hours a day using a few different resources.”
However, the company has faced some unexpected challenges. Earlier this year, Neuralink revealed that Arbaugh encountered medical complications as the technology continued to evolve. Some of the threads connecting the interface to his brain had retracted, causing concerns that Neuralink quickly addressed.
The company recently announced that updates to Arbaugh’s chip algorithm had successfully resolved the problem.
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and founder of VOCAB Communications. She currently appears on The Discovery Channel and Max and hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on The Debrief’s YouTube Channel on all audio podcast streaming platforms. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton and at chrissynewton.com.