See more as Elon Musk makes move to help blind see again

• Elon Musk's Neuralink brain implant, called "Blindsight," has been approved by the US government
• Musk said that after the implant, the blind will initially be able to see in low resolution, but it could potentially surpass natural vision in the future
• With the approval, Neuralink will now begin faster development and review of the device for premarket approval

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Elon Musk has announced that his brain chip firm Neuralink has received “breakthrough device” status for an implant aimed at helping blind patients regain their sight.

Elon Musk shared a photo of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” actor LeVar Burton, whose character Geordi La Forge used a futuristic visor to see. Photo credit: Marc Piasecki
Source: Getty Images

The US Food and Drug Administration “breakthrough device” program is aimed at “speeding up development, assessment and review for premarket approval” for medical devices that treat life-threatening or permanent conditions – as long as they meet safety standards.

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In a post shared on X, Musk said the implant dubbed “Blindsight,” has gained clearance.

According to the FDA, Musk's blindsight is one of 58 devices to receive the designation so far this year.

Musk, who excitedly shared the FDA’s decision, accompanied the news with a photo of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" actor LeVar Burton, whose character Geordi La Forge used a futuristic visor to see.

His post reads:

“The Blindsight device from Neuralink will enable even those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see. “Provided the visual cortex is intact, it will even enable those who have been blind from birth to see for the first time.”“To set expectations correctly, the vision will be at first be low resolution, like Atari graphics, but eventually it has the potential be better than natural vision and enable you to see in infrared, ultraviolet or even radar wavelengths, like Geordi La Forge."

Elon Musk man of many vision

Musk co-founded Neuralink in 2016. It is one of many projects for the tech titan, who also owns X and the artificial intelligence startup xAI while also serving as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.

Legit.ng in an earlier report revealed that Neuralink is also developing an implant that aims to allow para patients the ability to use digital devices with their brains.

In a video shared in Janaury on X, Noland Arbaugh, a 30-year-old Arizona man who was para from the neck down after a diving accident, became the first human to receive a Neuralink implant.

Another video was released in March ofArbaugh able to play video games, browse the internet, post on social media and move a laptop cursor with his mind.

The video:

Last month, Musk said Neuralink had successfully implanted a brain chip into a second human patient.

Elon Musk's Neuralink shows quadriplegic playing chess

Legit.ng previously reported that Neuralink streamed a video of its first human patient playing computer chess with his mind and talking about the brain implant making that possible on Wednesday.

Noland Arbaugh, 29, who was left disabled from the shoulders down by a diving accident eight years ago, told of playing chess and the videogame "Civilization" as well as taking Japanese and French lessons by controlling a computer screen cursor with his brain.

In January, Musk's neurotechnology company installed a brain implant in its first human test subject, with the billionaire head of Tesla and X touting it as a success.

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Source: Legit.ng