RobotRisk Autonomous Systems Incident & Risk Register
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Industry · Medical robotics

Neuralink

Products: neuro-robot. Risk band: Elevated   RobotRisk index 37.7/100 (severity- and time-weighted incidents) · ranked 6 of 25 among Medical robotics companies with incidents (173 tracked).

Analyst brief

The record contains two entries: a 2024 malfunction in which brain-implant threads retracted in the first human trial patient, and a 2022 federal inquiry into animal deaths during preclinical implant testing. Severity is 3 and 4 respectively, and the two entries span both a device-performance malfunction in human use and a federal investigative action tied to earlier preclinical work. Neuralink's index of 37.7 ranks 6 of 25 companies in Medical robotics with incident history. The record shows two distinct failure types at different stages of development (preclinical animal testing and first-in-human deployment) rather than a single repeated fault.

Risk index

37.7/100RobotRisk index
22.1/100Median index across the 25 Medical robotics companies with incident history (173 tracked, 148 with none)
6 of 25Rank in Medical robotics (of 25 with incident history)
ElevatedRisk band

Incident timeline

Comparisons over time

Per-type breakdown

Incident typeUnique incidentsShare
malfunction150%
fatality150%

Unique incident list

2 unique incidents on file for this company.

SevDateTypeLocationIncidentSource
S308 May 2024 malfunction Neuralink brain implant threads retract in first human patient CBS News
S4not documented fatality Federal inquiry into Neuralink over animal deaths in implant testing The Guardian
S3 08 May 2024 · malfunction · Neuralink brain implant threads retract in first human patient
Location not specified1 supporting source rowhigh confidence
SevDateSupporting source rowSource
S308 May 2024Neuralink brain implant threads retract in first human patientCBS News
S4 not documented · fatality · Federal inquiry into Neuralink over animal deaths in implant testing
Location not specified1 supporting source rowmedium confidence
SevDateSupporting source rowSource
S4not documentedFederal inquiry into Neuralink over animal deaths in implant testingThe Guardian

Similar companies

Same industry, nearest RobotRisk band or score.

Quantum Surgical risk 38.5Grifols (Kiro) risk 36.5Globus Medical risk 33.6Omnicell risk 44.5Virtual Incision risk 28.8Stryker Mako risk 24.9Monteris Medical risk 24.4Procept BioRobotics risk 22.4

Cross-links and alerts

Alternatives in Medical robotics

Intuitive SurgicalAuris Health (J&J MedTech)Noah MedicalOmnicellQuantum SurgicalGrifols (Kiro)Globus MedicalVirtual Incision
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