Neuralink’s ‘Blindsight’ Device Receives FDA Approval to Restore Vision

The device is designed to enable individuals who have lost both eyes and their optic nerves to see again.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that Neuralink, his brain-chip startup, has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its experimental vision-restoring device, Blindsight.

The device is designed to enable individuals who have lost both eyes and their optic nerves to see again.

“We have received Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA for Blindsight,” Neuralink stated on X (formerly Twitter).

Musk added that the device could even restore vision for those born blind, provided the visual cortex is intact.

Blindsight’s Potential

Musk shared that while the initial vision quality would be low resolution, similar to Atari graphics, Blindsight has the potential to surpass natural vision eventually.

The device could allow users to see in infrared, ultraviolet, and even radar wavelengths, reminiscent of the fictional character Geordi La Forge from Star Trek.

Blindsight marks a significant step for Neuralink, which has been working on innovative brain-chip interfaces since its founding in 2016.

The company aims to use these technologies to help disabled individuals restore lost abilities, including movement, communication, and vision.

Neuralink’s Brain-Chip Interface

Neuralink's brain chip is designed to process and transmit neural signals, allowing direct interaction with external devices like computers and smartphones.

The startup has also been developing an implant to enable paralyzed patients to control digital devices using their thoughts alone.

Neuralink’s ongoing trials include a study that aims to enroll three patients over several years to test this technology’s effectiveness.

In a previous development, last month, Neuralink completed its second human implant surgery.

The patient, Alex, a former automotive technician with a spinal cord injury, can now design 3D objects and play video games like Counter-Strike 2 using the Link device.

Unlike the first trial, where electrode threads retracted from Noland Arbaugh's brain, Neuralink introduced new measures to reduce brain motion during surgery and minimize the gap between the implant and the brain.

These adjustments resulted in a smoother procedure for Alex, with post-surgical software updates addressing previous complications.

Expanding Neuralink Capabilities

Neuralink’s Link device currently allows users to control on-screen cursors and digital devices. The company is developing features to decode multiple movement intentions and recognize handwriting.

These advancements aim to restore digital autonomy for individuals with severe movement limitations and give a voice to those with neurological conditions.

While designed for patients with movement disorders, Elon Musk envisions future use in enhancing abilities in healthy individuals, such as memory recall.

After his surgery at Barrow Neurological Institute, Alex used design software to create a custom Neuralink charger mount, showcasing the device's potential. Musk plans to implant more patients this year for the ongoing Prime study.