Because the system bypasses the eye and the optical nerve completely and directly works on the primary visual cortex of the brain, it will work in about 95% of cases. The only exceptions are blindness due to a tumor or haemorrage in the visual cortex itself, and blindness contracted from birth as then the visual cortex does not develop normally. In the latter case, implanting the child before the age of 5 would still allow the system to function. In that case, the performance will most probably even be superior to the performance experienced by adult recipients of the implant, as the brain's plasticity (its ability to adapt) is higher at young age.

In general, our implant is optimized to write data to the brain, while Neuralink focuses primarily on reading data from the brain, for example to control a computer using your thoughts alone. We have also designed our device for life-long performance while Neuralink seems to aim at medium-scale longevity. Also, our system is designed to interact with a larger volume of brain tissue, more particularly the whole primary visual cortex and uses resolution-enhancement techniques (‘virtual electrodes’). Finally, our insertion system does not require robot-assisted surgery, so it can be deployed in any hospital without a large investment.

We have excellent long-term data on the performance, lifetime and biocompatibility of the high-electrode count arrays in rhesus monkeys, sheep and mice. The results are very encouraging. The next step will be short-term testing on human patients in 2026. The first long-term test on a blind volunteer is scheduled for 2027. These tests still will be using experimental prototypes, with the necessary electronics not yet fully miniaturized. Meanwhile, we have started the development of a fully implantable, wireless version.

Yes, this is a next-generation high-resolution technology to interface with the brain and peripheral nervous system. It has potential applications in bioelectric medicine and in  the treatment of (among others) paralysis, aphasia, epilepsy and certain neurological conditions.