Elon Musk’s brain-chip company, Neuralink, has been granted “breakthrough device” status by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its experimental vision-restoring implant, known as Blindsight.
Blindsight is engineered to help individuals with partial or complete blindness regain their vision, including those with damaged or non-functional optic nerves.
“We are excited to announce that the FDA has awarded us Breakthrough Device Designation for Blindsight. Join our mission to restore sight by applying to our Patient Registry or exploring job opportunities on our career page,” Neuralink shared on its X account this Tuesday.
According to Reuters, the FDA’s breakthrough designation is reserved for medical devices addressing life-threatening conditions, helping to accelerate their development and approval process. Musk, via his X platform, emphasized Blindsight’s groundbreaking potential to restore vision, even in extreme cases of blindness.
“The Blindsight device from Neuralink is designed to help people with severe visual impairments, including those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve,” Musk said.
“As long as the visual cortex remains functional, the technology could even allow people born blind to experience vision for the first time. Initially, the vision may resemble low-resolution graphics, like those from old Atari games, but over time, the resolution could surpass natural sight, potentially allowing users to see in infrared, ultraviolet, or even radar, similar to Geordi La Forge from *Star Trek*,” he added.
Founded in 2016 by Elon Musk, Neuralink focuses on creating cutting-edge brain-computer interfaces to revolutionize treatments for neurological disorders. Their brain implants are designed to read neural signals and wirelessly connect to external devices, like computers and smartphones.
As reported by Business World, Neuralink is also working on an implant that would empower paralyzed individuals to control digital devices purely with their thoughts. The company is currently conducting a clinical trial involving three participants to assess the device’s ability to aid people with spinal cord injuries.
In August 2024, it was reported that a second patient successfully received Neuralink’s brain-computer interface and is now controlling video games and crafting 3D designs using only their thoughts.
