Neuralink, the neurotech startup co-founded by Elon Musk, has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to conduct its first in-human clinical study of its brain implant device.

The device, called the Link, is designed to help patients with severe paralysis control external technologies using only neural signals. This means patients with severe degenerative diseases like ALS could eventually regain their ability to communicate with loved ones by moving cursors and typing with their minds.

The company announced the news on Twitter on Thursday, saying: “This is the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA and represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people.”

The FDA and Neuralink did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment. The extent of the approved trial is not known. Neuralink said in a tweet that patient recruitment for its clinical trial is not open yet.

Neuralink is part of the emerging brain-computer interface, or BCI, industry. A BCI is a system that deciphers brain signals and translates them into commands for external technologies. Neuralink is perhaps the best-known name in the space thanks to the high profile of Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter.

Neuralink has been developing its technology since 2016 and has raised over $200 million in funding. The company has demonstrated its device on pigs and monkeys, showing that they can control computer screens and play video games with their minds.

Neuralink hopes to eventually enable humans to interact with artificial intelligence and augment their cognitive abilities. Musk has said that Neuralink’s ultimate goal is to achieve “symbiosis with AI” and “preserve and enhance” human consciousness.