Health Canada Grants Neuralink Implant Approval

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Facts

  • Neuralink, the Elon Musk-owned brain implant company, has announced it received approval for the first time from Health Canada to recruit volunteers to participate in its CAN-PRIME Study, which will evaluate the safety of the implant and surgical robot and determine the effectiveness of the brain-computer interface (BCI).[1]
  • In this study, Neuralink says a small, unnoticeable implant will be inserted in the part of the brain that controls movements. If successful, the implant would allow a person with limited or no ability to use both hands to operate a computer or smartphone with his or her thoughts.[1]
  • In turn, University Hospital Network Canada (UHN) on Wednesday announced it's "proud" to be picked as the country's first hospital to participate in this procedure.[2]
  • Dr. Kevin Smith, UHN President and Chief Executive Officer, credited UHN's "world-leading medical and research professionals" for earning the hospital this honor. UHN's Toronto Western Hospital will serve as the exclusive implant site.[2]
  • Previously, Neuralink had recruited volunteer patients in the US and UK. Neuralink's first of two human patients, Noland Arbaugh, received an implanted device earlier this year.[3][4]

Sources: [1]Neuralink, [2]UHN, [3]Bloomberg and [4]Reuters.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Washington Times. Musk's Neuralink keeps breaking barriers the way his companies have in other fields. The first brain implant patient has been doing well after some early adversity, and now Neuralink is expanding its research north of the US border. Neuralink has succeeded in changing the world despite US regulators trying to do what they do best — rain on an innovative company's parade.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Newsweek. While Neuralink may in fact change the world in a big way — especially for those who've lost use of their limbs — it's important to remember that rushing towards its goal could lead to unnecessary negative consequences. Musk would be wise to not rush forward too fast, lest Neuralink have to deal with tragedy before it achieves its desired outcomes.