Neuralink's First Implant Patient: Extraordinary And Valuable Despite Technical Challenges

JAKARTA - The first patient to live with Elon Musk's Neuralink brain chip implants wanted the world to know how 'extraordinary' and 'priced' his clinical trial experience with the technology. Four months ago, Noland Arbaugh (30) underwent experimental surgery that allowed him to control the computer with his mind.

"I am very excited to continue," said Arbaugh, who has been paralyzed from the neck down since college, about his role in Neuralink's human trials.

Although the company's brain-computer interface technology has allowed Arbaugh to compete with his stepfather in Mario Kart Nintendo's game, direct the computer's cursor, and more simply with his mind, technical barriers still interfere with the brain's chip function.

A report on the Neuralink Arbaugh trial stated that about 85 percent of chip connections, such as tendrils to the brain, have been loose, forcing Neuralink staff to improve the system on the software side. The FDA has approved trials on the second patient.

According to Arbaugh, his brain's natural movement floating in a'serebrospinal liquid' that protects him from injury has caused the electrode connection to be loose over time. However, a Neuralink source told the Wall Street Journal that the malfunction may have been caused by air stuck in his skull during surgery, a condition known as pneumocephalus which can cause seizures, brain abscess, and deaths if not treated.

The report claims that the condition causes the yarn to fall off, which almost causes the implant to be removed. But Musk's company revealed this month that it plans to implant deeper threads into the brain for a second human patient. This plan has been approved by the FDA.

Neuralink's brain interface consists of a computer chip connected to a small flexible thread sewn into the brain through a sewing machine-like robot. With the help of medical professionals and company staff, the robot removes a small piece of the skull, connects electrodes like this thread to certain areas of the brain, and sews back the holes, with the remains seen only scars from the incision.

Neuralink has said that this procedure only takes 30 minutes, does not require general anesthesia, and patients can return home on the same day.

However, Dr Lee Miller, a neurologist from Northwestern University, noted that brain immune defenses have also pose challenges for brain chip implants such as Neuralink. Researchers, said Dr Miller, have seen the brain grow scar tissue around sensor implants, inhibiting chip connectivity among other problems.

Although Neuralink's software fix requires Arbaugh to learn a new method of clicking and directing the cursor on the computer screen, the Arizona resident said that this remains an improvement in life before Neuralink.

In the years after being paralyzed by a swimming accident, Arbaugh has tried various devices that ultimately fail to provide long-term solutions to his mobility needs. Prior to Neuralink, Apple Siri's voice assistant on the iPad Arbaugh proved to be the most reliable method for compiling text messages, calling friends, and doing other tasks.

After Neuralink's implant was installed in January, and after an intensive training period with company staff, Arbaugh managed to break 2017's world record for speed and accuracy when controlling the computer's cursor with his mind.

"I feel, as soon as you guys let go of this control of me, I'm going to fly," recalls Arbaugh. "That's really, really cool."

Although he said that losing 85 percent of interconnectivity with brain implants was difficult and disappointing, he stressed that he was proud to play a role in improving this breakthrough medical technology.

"I just want to bring everyone on this trip with me," said Arbaugh. He added that he hopes Neuralink and similar devices will one day help others regain their lost speech, viewing, or movement skills.

Meanwhile, neurophysiologist Dr Cristin Welle said that Neuralink's plans to install a deeper connection between their chips and the human brain may face other biological barriers. Dr Welle, who works at the University of Colorado, said that deeper threads may still shift from its place or even swipe with the brain's surface, which could potentially increase the number of scar tissues formed and cause a loss of signals between the brain and the chip, among other health problems.

However, Neuralink's first human patient still had high hopes for the future of this implant, saying he was looking forward to a broader, more science fiction-like brain-computer interface application after this technology helped those most in need.

"Then, this technology can enable people to improve their capabilities," said Arbaugh, "as long as we don't lose our humanity along the way."