CHINA'S FIRST HOME-BUILT BRAIN CHIP GOES INTO 32 PARALYZED PATIENTS

China has launched its first multicentre clinical trial of a 128-channel, fully implantable brain-computer interface for patients with spinal cord injuries, led by Beijing Tiantan Hospital. The domestically developed system pairs an intracortical flexible electrode array, made of ultra-thin biocompatible materials intended to reduce immune response and record single-neuron activity, with a fully implantable, wireless acquisition device that has a rechargeable battery and supports wireless charging.

The study plans to enrol 32 patients with quadriplegia caused by spinal cord injuries across 11 medical institutions so far, with enrolment expected to complete within six months. After about a month of recovery and two months of decoding training, patients are expected first to achieve brain-controlled cursor operation and then assisted hand movement training, with a 180-day observation period assessing safety and effectiveness.