A company known for its brain-chip technology, Neuralink, has recently been granted a special designation by the US Food and Drug Administration for their experimental implant named Blindsight.
The device, Blindsight, is specifically created to help restore vision in individuals experiencing complete or partial blindness, even those with non-functional optic nerves.
Neuralink shared the news of receiving the FDA’s Breakthrough Device Designation for Blindsight and invited individuals to participate in their Patient Registry or explore career opportunities on their website.
According to reports, the FDA grants the breakthrough designation to devices that address life-threatening conditions, facilitating their development and review process.
Neuralink’s founder, Elon Musk, also mentioned the breakthrough on social media, emphasizing the potential of Blindsight to restore vision in severe cases of blindness.
Musk described how the Blindsight device could potentially help individuals who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see, and even enable those blind from birth to experience vision, with early visuals likened to Atari graphics.
Neuralink, established by Musk in 2016, specializes in cutting-edge brain-computer interfaces to revolutionize treatments for neurological conditions.
The company’s technology involves a brain implant that interprets neural signals and sends them wirelessly to external devices like computers and mobile gadgets.
Reports indicate that Neuralink is working on an implant that allows paralyzed individuals to control digital devices through their thoughts.
Neuralink is also said to be conducting a clinical trial involving three participants to assess the device’s efficacy in assisting individuals with spinal cord injuries.
Recent news from August 2024 revealed the successful implantation of Neuralink’s brain-computer interface in a second patient, enabling them to control video games and create 3D designs solely through their thoughts.