Elon Musk-backed neurotechnology company, Neuralink, has secured approval from Canadian health authorities for its first-ever global trial of the brain-computer interface (BCI) designed to help people control electronic devices and equipment using brain signals.
According to the company’s announcement, it received approval from Health Canada for the ‘Canadian Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface’ (CAN-PRIME) trial at the University Health Network (UHN) hospital.
The study, which will take place at the UHN’s Toronto Western Hospital, focuses on assessing the safety of Neuralink’s surgical robot (R1).
Additionally, it will assess the essential functionalities of the company’s brain-computer interface (BCI) (R1 implant) in enabling individuals with unmet medical challenges, such as quadriplegia, to control external electronic devices using their brains.
The new high-tech medical devices will be studied on Canadian patients with tetraplegia or tetraparesis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and spinal cord injury with limited use of hands, as well as those completely unable to use them.
Neuralink N1 Implant and R1 Robot
The N1 implant is a revolutionary wireless device that connects to the brain using a thread. Due to its compact design, the device is placed into the skull, and the thread is positioned using the R1 robot via a surgical procedure.
The high-tech surgical procedure will be performed by an interdisciplinary team of experts from the University Health Network.
According to Dr Kevin Smith, president and CEO of UHN, the trial marks significant progress in the hospital’s commitment to providing innovative and effective therapies for patients with neurological illnesses.
