Representational image of a doctor studying the results of a MRI scan Asia-Pacific Images Studio/iStock
China’s state-owned broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday that the country has become second only in the world to start human trials of its advanced invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technology.
The trial involves a 37-year-old man who lost all four limbs in a high-voltage electrical accident over ten years ago. In March, researchers implanted a coin-sized device and electrodes into his brain. Within weeks, the subject was able to control a cursor on a screen, allowing him to play chess, use a computer, and even game with near-normal skill, according to the CCTV report.
Electrode reportedly smallest and most flexible in the world
Starting this year, the team will launch small-scale trials involving patients with paralysis or ALS, with plans to expand to as many as 40 participants by 2026. The effort is being led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ (CAS) Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, alongside Huashan Hospital at Fudan University in Shanghai and several industry partners, the South China Morning Post detailed.
The deep brain stimulation electrode implanted in the patient is the smallest and most flexible of its kind in the world, Chinese media added. Created by the CAS research center, the electrode measures roughly 1/100th the width of a human hair and about one-fifth the thickness of Neuralink’s electrodes, explained Zhao Zhengtao, a professor at the academy.
Zhao also noted in a statement released by the CAS that the electrode’s exceptional flexibility enables it to bend with the subtle movements of neurons sliding past one another. The design caused minimal disruption to surrounding tissue, with the patient’s neurons barely affected by the implantation. Each electrode tip contains 32 sensors that capture brain signals, enabling long-term coexistence with brain tissue without triggering immune rejection.
Trial will involve training to control robotic arms and AI agents
Before reaching human trials, the technology underwent extensive testing on mice and macaques to evaluate its safety, flexibility, and effectiveness. The implant measures 26mm (1 inch) in diameter and is 6mm thick. The implantation procedure took less than 30 minutes to complete. Surgeons thinned a coin-sized section of the skull above the motor cortex, creating a 5mm opening to insert the electrode.
Before the operation, the surgical team used advanced scans to create a detailed 3D map of the patient’s brain, allowing for precise planning. During the surgery, real-time navigation technology guided the team to place the electrode with millimeter-level accuracy, ensuring optimal positioning.
In the coming months, the team will work closely with the patient to train him in controlling robotic arms, enabling him to perform practical tasks such as grasping and manipulating objects in everyday life.
Future phases of the trial may involve more advanced tasks, such as steering complex devices like robotic dogs and embodied AI agents. Beyond its current use, the report emphasized that this technology holds promise for a range of medical applications and offers new treatment options for debilitating neurological disorders such as stroke, ALS, and Alzheimer’s disease.
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