Neuralink receives Canadian approval for brain chip implant trials

It was announced on Wednesday that Elon Musk's Neuralink received regulatory approval from Health Canada to conduct its first clinical trial in the country. The trial aims to evaluate a brain implant designed to allow paralyzed individuals to control digital devices simply by thinking.

The trial will evaluate the safety and early functionality of an implant designed to help individuals with quadriplegia, or paralysis of all four limbs, control external devices through thought.

Health Canada has not issued a formal statement regarding the approval.

In the United States, Neuralink devices were implanted in two patients. The first, Noland Arbaugh, received his implant in January and has since used it to play video games, browse the internet and engage on social media. The second patient, who underwent the procedure in August and has chosen to remain anonymous, has been using the device to learn 3D design and play video games.

Read more: Neuralink implants brain chip in first human, Musk says

Neuralink founder Elon Musk said that 400 of the implant's electrodes are functional in the second patient, contributing to its good performance. Neuralink has plans to extend its trials to eight additional participants by the end of the year.

Founded in 2016, Neuralink is focused on advancing brain-computer interface technology to improve the lives of individuals with severe disabilities. Beyond enabling movement and communication, the company is also pursuing applications for restoring vision, with its implant earning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's "breakthrough device" designation earlier this year.

(With input from Reuters)