Neuralink Co-Founder's New Rival Company Requires No Hole-Drilling In Skulls

Remember when Elon Musk pitched Neuralink as the future of brain computer interfaces? That dream started to crack a little last year when Neuralink's former president, Max Hodak left the company.

Now, his rival company has $160 in total funding, and a promising new device - the Science Eye - "an advanced optogenetic visual prosthesis for patients with serious blindness due to photoreceptor loss."

Science Corp.

Introducing Science Eye

The new brain computer interface startup is called Science Corp. and already has an advantage over Musk's Neuralink. For starters, users of this interface wouldn't require strenuous invasive surgery - or in direct words - a hole to be drilled in their heads.

In a press release, the company explained Science Eye, which uses light sent from a patient's optic nerve to send information. The prototype is capable of treating vision loss in test rabbits, the company claims.

Also read: Paul Merolla, Chief Design Executive Behind Musk's Neuralink Quits Company

This Science Eye prototype uses a 20-millimeter wide thin LED film that is implanted on top of a rabbit's retina. It then processes patterns that are sent to it wirelessly.

Science Corp.

While Hodak says that human trials could begin soon, it's not as straightforward as it seems. Neuralink is still struggling to incite confidence among FDA officials, who haven't given the company permission to test its devices in humans yet. Instead, Neuralink tested its implantable device on macaque monkeys, many of whom lost their lives, while others showed signs of success.

we're excited to take the covers off our first product program, an optogenetic retinal prosthesis!https://t.co/f2XX1UVBEA

¡ª Max Hodak (@maxhodak_) November 21, 2022

Even though there's no large-scale hole drilling in the skull involved in Science Eye, it still runs on the same principle as Neuralink. The company wants to help make life easier for those with disabilities before their tech may be used to improve these abilities.

Also read: A Startup Beat Elon Musk's Neuralink With Its Brain-Computer Interface Implant

"Making the optic nerve itself light sensitive doesn¡¯t restore vision per se: there are over 100 million photoreceptors per eye but only around 1 million retinal ganglion cells. In other words, the signal sent down the optic nerve is heavily compressed relative to the image that is formed onto the photoreceptors through the eye¡¯s lens. It is this compressed data that the Science Eye implant stimulates into the optic nerve, and images the first patients will experience might look quite different from what you or I think of as vision," the company explained in a press release.

Science Corp.

While it's unclear whether Hodak was fired from Neuralink in 2021 or if he resigned, there's one thing we know for sure - that Hodak isn't a fan of Musk's leadership style. In a Tweet from another user expressing criticism of Musk, Hodak responded with "same."

For now, Science Corp is already the second-most funded brain computer interface startup, only behind Neuralink. Perhaps Musk could use some lessons in holding on to people longer.

What do you think about this latest development in brain computer interface? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.

References

Announcing the Science Eye. (2022, November 21). https://science.xyz/news/announcing-the-science-eye/

DeGeurin, M. (2022, November 21). Neuralink Co-Founder Unveils Rival Company That Won¡¯t Require Patients to Drill Holes in Their Skull. Gizmodo. https://gizmodo.com/neuralink-science-corp-max-hodak-elon-musk-1849808151