China has achieved a significant milestone in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology by completing clinical trials that involve implanting chips directly into the brains of individuals with amputations. This breakthrough makes China the second country, after the United States, to implement invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technology.
According to a report from Global Times cited by GigaGen on Tuesday, a joint research team from the Shanghai Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CEBSIT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Fudan University’s Huashan Hospital conducted a groundbreaking clinical trial in Shanghai. The team implanted a wireless chip-based BCI device into a male patient with limb paralysis.
The BCI device used in this trial is remarkably compact, measuring just 26 mm (about 1.02 inches) in diameter and 6 mm (about 0.24 inches) in thickness. This makes it one of the smallest BCI implants in the world, boasting over 100 times more flexibility than Neuralink’s BCI device.
The patient participating in the experiment had lost his limbs in a high-voltage electrical accident in 2012. Following the implant surgery, he underwent two to three weeks of training. Remarkably, he was then able to control a racing game and play chess using only his thoughts. The patient expressed his amazement, saying that he can operate the computer with his mind and that it feels like he’s moving it with his own will.
CEBSIT officials have stated that they expect this BCI system to receive approval from Chinese regulatory authorities by 2028, paving the way for commercialization. The research team’s next steps include equipping patients with robotic arms to test more advanced functions, such as grasping and moving objects.
In preparation for the widespread adoption of this technology, China’s National Healthcare Security Administration has already established guidelines for neurological medical services. They are also in the process of determining costs for BCI implantation and removal procedures.