2 Toronto hospital patients get Elon Musk’s Neuralink implants

Two Toronto hospital patients are now the first Canadians to have Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain chip implanted in the country.

The University Health Network (UHN) said in a news release Thursday the operations, conducted on Aug. 27 and Sept. 3 at Toronto Western Hospital, make it the first Canadian hospital to successfully implant the wireless brain-computer interface.

UHN also said the surgeries were the first Neuralink operations performed outside the United States.

The procedures were part of the Canadian Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface Study, a clinical trial evaluating the safety and functionality of Neuralink’s implant and surgical robot. Musk, the world’s richest man, co-founded Neuralink in 2016.

“We are incredibly proud to be at the forefront of this revolutionary advancement in neurosurgery,” said Dr. Thomas Forbes, UHN surgeon-in-chief, in a statement.

“This achievement reflects the dedication and expertise of our world-leading surgical and research teams, and our commitment to delivering the most innovative and effective treatments for patients.”