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Neuralink Corp., the brain-implant company founded by Elon Musk, has postponed the planned implantation of its device in a second patient due to health concerns, according to Michael Lawton, CEO of the Barrow Neurological Institute.

Scheduled for last Monday, the surgery was halted after the patient was deemed unsuitable for participation in Neuralink's experimental device study due to underlying medical conditions, Lawton revealed during a recent phone call. A replacement candidate is expected to undergo the procedure next month at the Barrow facility.

"Selecting the right patient for a trial like this is important," Lawton said, as per Bloomberg. "Everybody involved, clinically and surgically, wants to get it right."

Neuralink did not respond to the outlet's requests for comment via email.

The startup is currently in the early phases of clinical trials for its device, designed to restore function in paralyzed patients. Earlier this year, Noland Arbaugh, an Arizona man paralyzed from a spinal cord injury in 2016, became the first human to receive the Neuralink device. He has since demonstrated the ability to play video games using his thoughts.

The patient whose surgery was postponed this week suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a condition that leads to degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, ultimately resulting in muscle paralysis.

Due to patient confidentiality rules, further details about the individual cannot be disclosed.

According to Cristin Welle, an associate professor of neurosurgery at the University of Colorado and former FDA official, testing the Neuralink device across patients with various causes of motor impairment is beneficial. "It can be valuable to know it works across different conditions," she stated.

Barrow Neurological Institute, located in Phoenix, was also where Arbaugh underwent his initial surgery in January. Specializing in complex neurological conditions, the institute was praised by Neuralink President DJ Seo in April for its efficient patient care delivery.