Thousands of prospective patients have shown interest in Neuralink, and the company overseen by Elon Musk has ambitious plans for upcoming human trials, Bloomberg reported Nov. 6.
Each implant surgery is estimated to cost $10,500 to cover exams, parts and labor, the report said. Insurer costs are expected to be $40,000 per surgery.
The brain chip surgery involves cutting a hole into a patient's skull and using a robot to place the implant threads. Neuralink's goal is to address spinal cord injuries with the implants.
The company plans to perform 11 surgeries in 2024, 27 in 2025 and 79 in 2026. In 2027 Neuralink aims to perform 499 surgeries and 22,204 by 2030.
Neuralink was approved for human trials in May despite safety concerns from physician advocacy groups.