Neuralink has developed a surgical robot to automate the implantation of its brain-computer interface (BCI).
The California-based neurotechnology company was founded by Elon Musk in 2016. Over the past decade its team of neuroscientists and engineers has been developing a coin-sized BCI device. Surgically implanted beneath the skull, the device translates neural signals into actions.
Human trials of its PRIME (Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface) study started last year when a woman underwent surgery at the University of Miami Health Centre to be fitted with the chip.
While this surgery was performed by human surgeons, Neuralink has also been developing a specialised surgical robot to automate the surgery needed to place the device in the brain.
According to the company, the surgical robot has been designed to automate key steps in the process, promoting safety, reliability and scalability.
Danish Hussain, head of surgery mechanical engineering at Neuralink, said: “Here...