Canada agrees to let billionaire Elon Musk's company test chip implant in human brain

American billionaire Elon Musk's Neuralink technology company announced yesterday (November 20) that it has received approval to conduct the first clinical trial in Canada to implant a chip into the human brain , aiming to provide paralyzed patients with the ability to use digital devices with just their thoughts.

According to Neuralink's announcement, the clinical study in Canada aims to evaluate the safety and initial functionality of a brain implant that would allow quadriplegic patients to control external devices with their thoughts.

Elon Musk's Neuralink company gets approval to test implanting chips into human brains. (Source: Shutterstock).

On the Canadian side, the country's University Health Network said in a statement that a medical facility in Toronto was chosen to perform this complex neurosurgical procedure.

Previously in the US, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light for Neuralink to test the chip implanted in the brains of 2 patients. According to updated reports, the company said the device is working well in the second test patient when this person can use the device to play video games and design 3D objects just by thinking.

In the US, more than 1,000 paralyzed people have volunteered for Neuralink's experimental research program, but fewer than 100 of them are eligible. The tech company aims to implant the device in 10 people this year and hopes to have a diverse group of recipients to expand the diversity of the test subjects, given that those who have signed up to participate in the trial so far are all white and male.

Founded in 2016, Neuralink is working on developing a chip that can be implanted inside the skull, with the ultimate goal of helping disabled patients move and communicate again, as well as restore vision.

In September 2024, the startup received 'breakthrough device' designation from the US Food and Drug Administration for its experimental implant intended to restore vision.