Brain-Machine Interfaces, otherwise known as BMI’s, are at the heart of Elon Musk’s innovative neurotechnology company Neuralink. This technology will help alleviate neurological disorders that affect cognitive and motor functions, such as paralysis. Elon Musk’s neuralink technology also has potential applications for public use, as it will be able to connect with computers and mobile devices. 

The Mind in the Machine

The technology at the center of Neuralink is a neural implant called the Link. It’s a small, circular cylinder containing a microchip inside that fits inside a slot cut out from the user’s skull. The chip has several threads acting as electrodes, which are then inserted into specific areas of the brain. 

Our brains send signals to our body by firing millions of neurons in order to make the connections necessary for a thought or action. The Link picks up on these signals, processes, decodes, and transmits them to an external computer or device. This means that patients who have undergone paralysis accidents can operate computers, mechanical limbs, or even automobiles by simply thinking. 

“The development of BMIs is an exciting prospect given the devastating impact spinal cord injuries tend to have on the lives of SCI patients, particularly those who have been involved in catastrophic accidents. I look forward to seeing advancements in clinical trials,” says Rick Nehora on the technology advancement.  He is a known legal figure from a top-rated  Los Angeles paralysis law firm [ see here ], who has to keep abreast on such topics for his clients.

The Link may also help the blind restore their eyesight by restoring visual connections between the eyes and brain. This concept is Neuralinks mission: to reduce human suffering. However, there is a lot going on behind the Link that is also advancing technology as we know it.

The Neuralink App

Users of this new technology will need an interface to transmit and interact with the data from the chip. The Link will be able to sync with any iOS device, keyboard or mouse through the Neuralink App. It works by matching mental neuron signals with graphics on the screen, giving you control and autonomy.

The app will also include exercises that will teach you to operate your device. These are displayed on Neuralink’s website, and are reminiscent of Ninendo’s Wii console, where you match movements on the screen. You will also be able to connect with bluetooth devices. 

And just like your phone, you’ll be able to charge your Link without any cables. A compact inductive charger connects wirelessly the Link for charging, which you’ll be able to do in your sleep. While the company hasn’t explained where the charger would be located, Musk has suggested it could be integrated into a nightcap. 

Precision Automated Neurosurgery

Because the thin fibers of the Link are so delicate, the human hand cannot possible insert them into specific parts of the brain. Each thread contains hundreds of electrodes to stimulate neurons and pick up as many signals as possible. 

That’s why Neuralink is also developing surgical robots to take care of the process. The robot would insert the threads through an 8mm opening in the skull, while taking care to avoid puncturing blood vessels and cause bleeding. Any malfunction could lead to letters from  paralysis lawsuit attorneys, so focus on this technology is increasingly a concern.

In a statement issued by the neurotechnology company, Neuralink describes the issues surrounding their automated neurosurgery:

“We have not yet begun clinical trials, and so we do not have safety data in humans. But safety has been at the core of the design process,” a spokesperson said. “In particular, the Link includes technical innovations for improving the safety of the surgical procedure compared to existing BMI devices or traditional neurosurgery.”

They also described that to avoid bleeding, the robots use ‘micron-scale threads’, which can more easily navigate between blood vessels. The needle used to insert them is also about the diameter of a neuron. However, more time is needed to really dial in this quickly evolving technology and it will be a while before it sees real applications in humans.

One Smart Pig

While humans may be out of the question for now, it seems that animals aren’t. Earlier this year, Neuralink publicly showed the power of a successfully implanted Link on a pig’s skull. The pig in question, named Gertrude, looked and behaved completely normal, except for a small scar on her forehead left from the surgery. Elon Musk hosted the event and projected the digital signals coming from Gertrude’s brain onto a screen. The results were fascinating.

Each time the handler touched Gertrude’s snout, the screen showed spikes in her neurological activity. This means that touching her snout activated a part of her brain connected to it, and the Link picked up on the firing signals. The device then decodes those signals which are processed through computer algorithms to control computers and devices. Does this mean you’ll see a pig playing a video game in the near future? Who knows, but it’s definitely a strong step in that direction.

Elon Musk’s Neuralink technology could help many people who have debilitating disorders and paralysis and offer them independence. There could also be practical applications for general public use for the future. However, the company is focusing first on making life better for people, and the rest is speculation.