Elon Musk's Neuralink is rapidly advancing brain-computer interface (BCI) technology and has introduced a dedicated surgical robot. The robot is designed to highly automate the implantation process of brain-computer interfaces, focusing on enhancing the safety and reliability of the implantation surgery, laying the foundation for future large-scale applications. Although human surgeons remain indispensable, the robot will handle highly precise and repetitive operational steps. Neuralink's implantation threads are as thin as hair, making it difficult for traditional manual surgery to handle them with precision. The dedicated robot utilizes eight cameras and an OCT scanner to identify and avoid brain tissue in real-time, employing a five-axis system with a smaller and more efficient robotic arm. In a recent demonstration, the team optimized the surgical procedure, allowing the robot to directly puncture the dura mater without removing it, thereby shortening the surgery time and reducing the risk of infection. In the future, this technology is expected to transform the brain-computer interface implantation process into a short-stay hospital procedure.
