Neuralink Starts Recruiting Patients In Canada For Next Brain Implant Trial

Illustration of implanting the brain (photo: dock. Neuralink)

JAKARTA Neuralink, a chip development company for the brain, will conduct the first test outside the US. Neuralink said they had obtained approval from Health Canada.

After obtaining approval, Neuralink is now starting to look for patients from Canada to conduct trials on the country's first human beings. Although patient registration in Canada has been open since last March, Neuralink is still looking for potential participants.

"We are pleased to announce that Health Canada has approved the launch of our first clinical trial in Canada! Recruitment is now open," Neuralink said, through its official account on platform X.

During a human-grown chip planting trial in Canada, Neuralink will work with Toronto Western Hospital. This hospital will be the exclusive location for first surgery on patients willing to use brain chips.

Elon Musk's neurotechnology company describes two types of patients who meet the surgical requirements. Registrants are allowed to follow brain chip installation procedures if they suffer from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

ALS is a nervous system disease that reduces muscle function. If patients with ALS have difficulty moving their hands or can't even use their hands at all due to a neck spine injury, they can undergo procedures from Neuralink.

The study of patients in Canada is referred to as CAN-PRIME. Through this study, Neuralink will conduct a fully implanted trial of the wireless investigative medical device (BCI). The study of CAN-PRIME will focus on the functionality and safety of brain implants.

"This study involves placing small implants that are not seen cosmetically in the brain that are planning movement," Neuralink explained. "(patients with these implants) can operate a computer or smartphone only with the desire to move, do not require cables or physical movement."