The Blindsight device aims to restore vision, even for those who have been blind since birth. Credit: H_Ko / Shutterstock.

Neurotechnology company Neuralink has secured a breakthrough device designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Blindsight device.

This advanced technology promises to restore vision, even to those who have been blind since birth, provided their visual cortex remains intact.

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The Blindsight device is designed to process and transmit neural signals, potentially allowing individuals without eyes or an optic nerve to perceive visual information.

The visual resolution will initially be basic, similar to early video game graphics, but there is potential for significant improvements, including the ability to see in different wavelengths such as infrared and ultraviolet.

Neuralink’s technology includes a chip that could interface with digital devices such as computers or phones, reported Reuters.

The company is concurrently conducting trials on an implant that could enable paralysed patients to operate digital devices through thought alone, offering new hope for individuals with spinal cord injuries.

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The company’s clinical trial, aiming to enrol three patients, is anticipated to span several years, as detailed in the US Government’s clinical trials database.

Neuralink received FDA approval for its first human study in May 2023. The company had expressed on Twitter that this approval marks a crucial initial step towards utilising its technology to aid numerous individuals.

Last month, Neuralink’s founder Elon Musk announced the successful implantation of the brain-chip device in a second patient.

Musk established Neuralink to address various health issues, with blindness and paralysis being the primary targets.