A major milestone was marked in Miami when the first microchip backed by Elon Musk was implanted into a patient’s brain at a local hospital.
It’s part of a clinical trial giving people who are paralyzed the ability to control their phones or computers with their minds. NBC6 spoke to one of the Miami doctors involved, and he says so far, it’s a success.
For the first time in two and a half years, military veteran RJ is regaining a simple freedom.
“I think my favorite has been being able to turn on my TV,” RJ told NBC6.
Dr. Jonathan Jagid, UHealth Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery, said RJ suffered a cervical spinal cord injury due to a motorcycle accident that left him quadriplegic, meaning he lacks the use of his arms or legs.
RJ, like a handful of other participants across the country, is taking part in a groundbreaking clinical trial that began in 2024.
Each patient suffers from being paralyzed by either a spinal cord injury or ALS, and in each of their brains is an implanted microchip called Neuralink.
“It’s been an incredible amount of progress,” said Neuralink founder Elon Musk.
The Neuralink brain-computer device, founded by Musk, teamed up with the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and the University of Miami Health System.
Dr. Jonathan Jagid and his team executed the implant on RJ just months ago.
“This device is completely invisible, you know, to anybody else that interacts with somebody who has it implanted. The other thing that makes it very unique is how it’s been miniaturized. It’s a very small device,” Dr. Jagid said.
It is roughly the size of a coin, however, the impact so far has been anything but small.
During Neuralink’s summer update on the trial, they showed the moment one participant was able to move a cursor with his thoughts.
“I mean, these are people that can’t even move a mouse, right? So, you have to understand, in its early stages, it’s been really successful — allowing them to accomplish goals they could not otherwise accomplish. But what it can do in the future is anybody’s guess,” Dr. Jagid said.
After years in the making, RJ is hopeful.
“Excited to see what BCI’s got going on,” he said.
The uncharted territory raises concerns, but Dr. Jagid says that’s expected with any new technology.
In Musk’s recent presentation, the team detailed their future goals, including expanding to more people and eventually helping restore someone’s eyesight and speech.
The PRIME study continues to look for patients impacted by cervical spinal cord injury or ALS. You can find information on joining the registry: https://neuralink.com/trials/
