Latest news with #TheMiamiProjecttoCureParalysis
The Star
05-07-2025
- Health
- The Star
Brain chip made by Elon Musk's company put into paralysed military vet. What to know
A paralysed military veteran is one of seven people in the country to be implanted with an Elon Musk-backed brain chip as part of a clinical trial underway in South Florida. The goal is to test whether the chip, created by Neuralink, a company co-founded by Musk, can give people who are paralysed the ability to use their mind to control computers, smartphones and other electronic devices. Surgeons at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine implanted the device, known as the Link or Telepathy, in the patient's brain as part of the FDA-approved clinical trial. And so far, the tech seems to work. Video recently shared by UM shows the veteran, who was only identified as RJ, using his mind to wirelessly play a video game on a computer. Photos posted online also show Musk making the 'U' sign in celebration with UM medical staff at the hospital. 'They're giving me my spark back.. my drive back. They've given me my purpose back,' RJ said in a statement. RJ, who has a spinal cord injury stemming from a motorcycle accident, received the Neuralink implant in April at UHealth Tower, the Miami flagship hospital of the University of Miami Health System. As of last week, RJ was one of seven people in the country who have received the Telepathy implant since clinical trials began last year, according to Neuralink co-founder and president DJ Seo. He's also the first patient to get the implant through The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UM's medical school, which was tapped earlier this year to be the second site in the country to test the safety and effectiveness of the chip. The first patient, Noland Arbaugh, had his Link surgically implanted last year at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. 'We're very cautious with Neuralink in humans' and are working closely with regulators, Musk said during a June update on Neuralink's progress creating devices that improve or restore movement, vision and speech. 'That's the reason we're not moving faster than we are, is because we're taking great care with each individual to make sure we never miss and, so far, we haven't.' For the Telepathy trials, researchers are looking for volunteers 22 to 75 years old who have limited or no ability to use both hands to participate in the clinical trial. The paralysis must be from a cervical spinal cord injury or from ALS, a rare disease with no cure that causes nerve cells to stop working and muscles to become weak, leading to paralysis. Neuralink has also received approval to launch similar trials in Canada, the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates, according to Seo. 'We hope this partnership is another significant step in finding meaningful solutions for the millions living with paralysis and other significant motor deficits,' Marc Buoniconti, president of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and the son of the late Miami Dolphins linebacker Nick Buoniconti, previously told the Miami Herald. Marc Buoniconti became a quadriplegic following a spinal cord injury while playing in a 1985 college football game. His father helped establish the Miami Project. And unlike other types of brain surgeries, the surgical implant of the Link is not as invasive, according to Dr Jonathan Jagid, UM's principal investigator for the clinical trial and part of RJ's surgical team. How does Neuralink's brain chip work? Surgeons made a relatively small incision to implant a wireless, rechargeable coin-sized brain chip in the part of RJ's brain that handles thoughts and body movement. A Neuralink surgical robot with a needle that's thinner than a human hair is used to implant more than 60 flexible ultra-thin 'threads.' The threads are so fine that they can't be inserted by human hand, according to Neuralink. 'The surgery went perfect,' Jagid told the Herald in a phone interview this week while discussing RJ's procedure. The veteran was discharged from the hospital a day after his surgery, he said. The device records electrical signals sent between brain cells and wirelessly transmits it to Neuralink's software, which will be running on a computer or another device. The software will then decode and translate the neural data into actions, such as moving a cursor or a chess piece on a computer screen, playing video games and even using design software. Neuralink is also testing whether its brain chip can help patients control a robotic arm. 'I think my favorite thing's probably (being) able to turn on my TV, like the first time in two and a half years I was able to do that. That was a pretty sweet move,' RJ said during a recorded video call with several other Telepathy users. The recording was played during Neuralink's June 27 event. RJ, who identified himself as the fifth person in the country to receive the Link, was also shown playing Call of Duty and Mario Kart with the other Neuralink patients. All of it was done wirelessly using their minds. 'I like shooting zombies. That's kinda nice,' said RJ, whose shirt read: 'I do a thing called whatever I want.' For Jagid, the UM doctor, the technology is a step in the right direction for The Miami Project's mission to find a cure for paralysis from spinal cord injuries and help improve patients' quality of life. And RJ's involvement in the trial will help 'move the science forward in order to help everybody else who suffers with these types of injuries,' he said. – Miami Herald/Tribune News Service
Miami Herald
02-07-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Elon Musk's brain chip was put in a patient at Miami-area hospital. What to know
A paralyzed military veteran is one of seven people in the country — and the first patient at a Miami hospital — to be implanted with an Elon Musk-backed brain chip as part of a clinical trial underway in South Florida. The goal is to test whether the chip, created by Neuralink, a company co-founded by Musk, can give people who are paralyzed the ability to use their mind to control computers, smartphones and other electronic devices. Surgeons at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine implanted the device, known as the Link or Telepathy, in the patient's brain as part of the FDA-approved clinical trial. And so far, the tech seems to work. Video recently shared by UM shows the veteran, who was only identified as RJ, using his mind to wirelessly play a video game on a computer. Photos posted online also show Musk making the 'U' sign in celebration with UM medical staff at the hospital. 'They're giving me my spark back … my drive back. They've given me my purpose back,' RJ said in a statement. RJ, who has a spinal cord injury stemming from a motorcycle accident, received the Neuralink implant in April at UHealth Tower, the Miami flagship hospital of the University of Miami Health System. As of last week, RJ was one of seven people in the country who have received the Telepathy implant since clinical trials began last year, according to Neuralink co-founder and president DJ Seo. He's also the first patient to get the implant through The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UM's medical school, which was tapped earlier this year to be the second site in the country to test the safety and effectiveness of the chip. The first patient, Noland Arbaugh, had his Link surgically implanted last year at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. 'We're very cautious with Neuralink in humans' and are working closely with regulators, Musk said during a June update on Neuralink's progress creating devices that improve or restore movement, vision and speech. 'That's the reason we're not moving faster than we are, is because we're taking great care with each individual to make sure we never miss and, so far, we haven't.' READ MORE: What's it like to use Elon Musk's brain chip? How does it work? 'Like using the Force' For the Telepathy trials, researchers are looking for volunteers 22 to 75 years old who have limited or no ability to use both hands to participate in the clinical trial. The paralysis must be from a cervical spinal cord injury or from ALS, a rare disease with no cure that causes nerve cells to stop working and muscles to become weak, leading to paralysis. Neuralink has also received approval to launch similar trials in Canada, the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates, according to Seo. 'We hope this partnership is another significant step in finding meaningful solutions for the millions living with paralysis and other significant motor deficits,' Marc Buoniconti, president of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and the son of the late Miami Dolphins linebacker Nick Buoniconti, previously told the Miami Herald. Marc Buoniconti became a quadriplegic following a spinal cord injury while playing in a 1985 college football game. His father helped establish the Miami Project. And unlike other types of brain surgeries, the surgical implant of the Link is not as invasive, according to Dr. Jonathan Jagid, UM's principal investigator for the clinical trial and part of RJ's surgical team. How does Neuralink's brain chip work? Surgeons made a relatively small incision to implant a wireless, rechargeable coin-sized brain chip in the part of RJ's brain that handles thoughts and body movement. A Neuralink surgical robot with a needle that's thinner than a human hair is used to implant more than 60 flexible ultra-thin 'threads.' The threads are so fine that they can't be inserted by human hand, according to Neuralink. 'The surgery went perfect,' Jagid told the Herald in a phone interview this week while discussing RJ's procedure. The veteran was discharged from the hospital a day after his surgery, he said. The device records electrical signals sent between brain cells and wirelessly transmits it to Neuralink's software, which will be running on a computer or another device. The software will then decode and translate the neural data into actions, such as moving a cursor or a chess piece on a computer screen, playing video games and even using design software. Neuralink is also testing whether its brain chip can help patients control a robotic arm. 'I think my favorite thing's probably [being] able to turn on my TV, like the first time in two and a half years I was able to do that. That was a pretty sweet move,' RJ said during a recorded video call with several other Telepathy users. The recording was played during Neuralink's June 27 event. RJ, who identified himself as the fifth person in the country to receive the Link, was also shown playing Call of Duty and Mario Kart with the other Neuralink patients. All of it was done wirelessly using their minds. 'I like shooting zombies. That's kinda nice,' said RJ, whose shirt read: 'I do a thing called whatever I want.' For Jagid, the UM doctor, the technology is a step in the right direction for The Miami Project's mission to find a cure for paralysis from spinal cord injuries and help improve patients' quality of life. And RJ's involvement in the trial will help 'move the science forward in order to help everybody else who suffers with these types of injuries,' he said.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Elon Musk's Neuralink implants brain chip in sixth patient who says 'I'm already shocked'
Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain-chip company, has implanted its brain-computer interface (BCI) in a sixth person. The update came from Rob Grenier, who shared his experience on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week. "Absolutely amazing what I can do already in under a week with Neuralink!" Grenier posted, along with a video showing him playing a computer game and moving a cursor using only his thoughts. Grenier became quadriplegic after a car accident in December 2022. The incident left him paralyzed from the neck down. 'I can't thank the Neuralink team, the doctors, the surgeons and all of my family and friends' support. It may only look like I'm doing a couple games but it's been under a week and I'm already shocked!' he added in the post. Elon Musk's Neuralink raises $650 million in Series E round The announcement comes as Neuralink raised over $650 million in its Series E funding round, bringing its valuation to $9 billion. The Series E round attracted major investors including ARK Invest, Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital, and several others, valuing the company at approximately $9 billion pre-money according to recent reports. Cathie Wood's ARK Invest is among the company's major backers. The funding represented a significant increase from Neuralink's $280 million Series D round in August 2023. Neuralink has launched clinical trials at leading medical institutions across three countries, including Barrow Neurological Institute, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami, University Health Network in Toronto, and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. It is now preparing for a human trial of its Blindsight chip in partnership with the UAE's Cleveland Clinic in 2026. Musk had earlier said, 'With Neuralink interfacing directly to the visual cortex, even those who are completely blind will be able to see again.' Alcatel V3 Ultra Unboxing & Hands-on | Dual Display Mode, Sleek Design & More!
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Neuralink raises $650M to help expand patient access
This story was originally published on MedTech Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily MedTech Dive newsletter. Elon Musk's Neuralink closed a $650 million funding in a Series E round, the company said Monday. The company said it plans to use the funds to expand patient access and 'innovate future devices that deepen the connection between biological and artificial intelligence.' Neuralink also announced that its brain implant has entered clinical trials in three countries, and that five people with severe paralysis are now using the implant to control digital and physical devices. Neuralink's brain computer interface consists of a chip that is surgically implanted in the skull, as well as electrodes that connect to the brain's cerebral cortex. It's designed to allow people to control a computer or mobile device. The latest fundraise included investors ARK Invest, Founders Fund, G42, Lightspeed, Sequoia Capital and others. Neuralink previously raised $280 million in a Series D round in 2023. Last year, Noland Arbaugh became the first person to receive the implant, which allowed him to move a cursor on a screen and play video games. Since then, Neuralink has sought additional applications. The company said last month it received the Food and Drug Administration's breakthrough designation to help restore communication for individuals with severe speech impairment. In Monday's announcement, Neuralink also said it had received breakthrough designation for vision restoration programs. The FDA determines breakthrough devices based on their potential for more effective treatment of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating conditions. The designation gives manufacturers the opportunity to meet with FDA experts and have their submissions prioritized for review. Neuralink also said it has started clinical trials at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami, the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and the University Health Network in Toronto. Recommended Reading Elon Musk's brain implant company raises $280M to fund clinical trials Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Elon Musk's brain chip startup, Neuralink raises $650 million in Series E round
Elon Musk 's brain-computer interface company Neuralink announced Monday it has raised $650 million in its latest funding round, as the startup accelerates clinical trials of its brain implant technology across multiple countries. The Series E round attracted major investors including ARK Invest, Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital, and several others, valuing the company at approximately $9 billion pre-money according to recent reports. The funding represents a significant increase from Neuralink's $280 million Series D round in August 2023. Five patients with severe paralysis are currently using Neuralink's brain chip to control digital and physical devices through thought alone, marking a major milestone in the company's mission to restore independence for individuals with neurological conditions. The chip processes neural signals that can be transmitted wirelessly to computers and smartphones. Clinical trials for Neuralink's brain implant device expand globally by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Neuralink has launched clinical trials at leading medical institutions across three countries, including Barrow Neurological Institute, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami, University Health Network in Toronto, and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. The FDA granted Neuralink "breakthrough device" designation for both its speech restoration technology last month and its vision-restoring device in 2024. This designation expedites the development and review process for promising medical technologies. The company plans to use the new funding to expand patient access and develop next-generation devices that create deeper connections between biological and artificial intelligence. Neuralink is also investing in expanding the number of neurons and brain regions its device can interface with, working toward what it calls a "whole-brain interface." The funding comes as Musk recently stepped back from his advisory role with President Trump to refocus on his companies, including Tesla , SpaceX, and Neuralink.
