Neuralink, Elon Musk‘s brain-computer interface (BCI) startup, has received approval from Health Canada to begin recruitment for its first clinical trial in the country.
The approval marks a significant milestone in Neuralink’s quest to develop technology that enables individuals with paralysis to control external devices using only their thoughts.
According to a statement released by Neuralink on November 20, the Canadian trial will focus on evaluating the safety and initial functionality of its implant for people with quadriplegia—the paralysis of all four limbs. The implant aims to restore autonomy by allowing users to control digital devices through thought alone.
Newsweek has contacted Neuralink via email for comment.
Canada’s University Health Network hospital announced that its Toronto facility has been selected to perform the complex neurosurgical procedures required for the implant.
The Canadian trial mirrors Neuralink’s efforts in the U.S., where the company has already implanted the device in two patients as part of its Precise …