Neuralink, the neurotechnology company co-founded by Elon Musk, has announced that its experimental implant, Blindsight, has received the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) prestigious Breakthrough Device designation.
According to Musk’s post on X, this implant was designed to restore vision in individuals with complete or partial blindness, including those with non-functional optic nerves.
The breakthrough designation from the FDA expedites the development and review process for medical devices that treat or diagnose life-threatening conditions.
Also, this designation is seen as a great milestone for Neuralink and its innovative approach to addressing neurological disorders.
Musk stressed the potential of the Blindsight device to restore vision in severe cases of blindness, including individuals who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve.
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He also mentioned the possibility of enabling individuals who have been blind from birth to see for the first time.
According to him, while the initial vision may be low resolution, the long-term potential could surpass natural vision, even allowing for the perception of infrared, ultraviolet, or radar wavelengths.
Neuralink’s technology revolves around brain-computer interfaces, including a brain implant that reads neural signals and wirelessly transmits them to external devices such as computers and mobile devices.
Furthermore, the company is working on an implant that enables paralyzed individuals to control digital devices using their thoughts.
Neuralink is currently conducting a clinical trial involving three participants to evaluate the effectiveness of its devices in aiding individuals with spinal cord injuries.
Notably, reports indicated that Neuralink’s brain-computer interface has been successfully implanted in a second patient, enabling them to control video games and create 3D designs using only their thoughts.
