Neuralink’s second patient uses the brain implant to design 3D objects

The update said that Alex had already used computer-aided design (CAD) software to design a custom mount for his Neuralink charger, which was later 3D printed and used for his setup.

Elon Musk first announced the news during an episode of the Lex Fridman podcast earlier this month. At the time, Musk said 400 of the implant’s electrodes on the second patient’s brain were working. The wires have over 1,000 electrodes in total.

Neuralink aims to eventually create a device that allows people to do anything with their minds, from telepathic communication to video games.

The first patient, Noland Arbaugh, received the brain chip in January. He previously told Business Insider that the implant helped him regain his independence and reconnect socially.

Musk’s brain chip company has lofty goals — here’s how the chips work.

Brain-Machine Interface

Neuralink’s overall goal is to create a brain-machine interface that could revolutionize the way humans interact with technology and lead to breakthrough advances in medicine, communication and human cognition.

For example, Musk said on the podcast that someone with a Neuralink chip could beat a professional gamer in a few years.

“We’re pretty confident that in the next year or two, someone with a Neuralink implant will be able to outplay a professional gamer because the reaction time would be faster,” he said.

The core of Neuralink technology is a small implantable chip called “Link” that contains numerous wires of small, flexible electrodes. The threads are thinner than human hair and require precise surgery, which is performed by a specialized robotic system.

The chip captures and transmits brain activity, sending it wirelessly to an external device such as a computer.

The goal of Neuralink devices is to be able to repair damaged neurons and help people with problems like paralysis. However, the company faced a long road to introduce its products to people.

Robotic surgery

The wires are too small to be implanted by a human hand, so the operation is done with a robot.

According to Neuralink, the robot can manipulate the ultrathin wires and implant them without disrupting blood vessels in the brain, reducing the risk of damage and inflammation.

Apparently it takes about 25 minutes for the robot to insert the device.

Neuralink has struggled to get regulatory approval to begin human clinical trials, missing several of Musk’s deadlines. The company finally received approval for its first human clinical trial in May 2023, which led to thousands of potential patients volunteering to have part of the skull removed and chip inserted.

Neuralink has also faced intense scrutiny over its treatment of animal test subjects over the years. Several reports indicated that monkeys who had the implant installed experienced a number of health problems before they were eventually euthanized.

Neuralink representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.