Neuralink said it implanted its brain-computer interface (BCI) device in its eighth and ninth participants over the weekend.
The Elon Musk-owned company aims to help paralysed people use their computers and smartphones using only their thoughts. It works by connecting a person’s nervous system to devices that can interpret their brain activity.
This was the first time the neurotechnology company did two surgeries in one day, Neuralink said on the Musk-owned social media platform X.
“Both participants are recovering well and in great spirits,” the company said. “We are looking forward to supporting them on their Neuralink journey”.
The company did not disclose additional details about the participants’ health or locations.
Neuralink said in 2023 that US regulators had given it permission to test its device in people.
The company implanted its first device in January 2024, in a man who was paralysed after a spinal cord injury. The implant made it possible for him to play video games and chess.
After the third person got a Neuralink implant in January, Musk said he hoped it would be given to 20 to 30 more people this year.
Other participants have also had spinal cord injuries or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which over time erodes patients’ ability to move their arms, legs, and body.
Neuralink’s device is still in early clinical trials, testing the implant’s initial safety and functionality in people with specific medical conditions that limit their mobility. But Musk has hyped it as a tool that could one day have much broader appeal.
“Neuralink will do live-changing [sic] good for ultimately millions, maybe billions, of people,” Musk wrote on X after the latest surgeries were announced.
“Imagine your loved one being able to walk again or your parent with dementia being able to recognise their child again,” he added.
Neuralink is one of several companies working on BCIs. Other studies are exploring their use for people with cerebral palsy, dementia, stroke, and other health issues, according to a US clinical trials database.
