China has successfully performed the world's first commercial brain-machine interface (BCI) surgery, implanting a device into the brain of a patient with quadriplegia.
The invasive surgery, conducted on July 13 at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University in Shanghai, involved the implantation of a BCI product developed by Chinese medical device company Borui Kang (博睿康), according to a report by China’s Xinjing Bao on July 16.
While companies like Neuralink and Synchron have developed BCI products that have been implanted in human brains, those procedures were all in clinical trial phases. Borui Kang's product has completed clinical trials and is now commercially available, marking it as the first commercial BCI surgery in the world, the report stated.
The device implements a 'Neuro-Engineered Operative Brain-Machine Interface for Hand Motor Function Compensation System (NEO).' During the surgery, sensors were implanted in the patient's brain, which collect brain waves and transmit them to an external device. This device processes the signals using AI, interpreting the brain waves, which are then converted into electrical signals sent to a wearable assistive device, enabling finger movement.
The Huashan Hospital reported that during the surgery, brain wave signals were collected stably, and the signal quality was good. The hospital also noted that the patient's condition remained stable.
This surgery has validated the accurate measurement of brain signals. After a recovery period of several weeks, during which the surgical site heals, the AI will learn the patient's brain signals. Following this process, the patient will be able to move their hand.
According to reports, there are currently 3.7 million individuals in China with spinal cord injuries, with 90,000 new cases emerging each year. More than 70% of these patients are under the age of 50, indicating a significant demand for rehabilitation services.
The Chinese government has designated BCI as a future growth industry and is providing support for its development. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology set goals last year to enhance core technology development by 2027 and significantly improve industrial innovation capabilities by 2030.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.