In an unprecedented achievement within the realm of neurotechnology, China has marked a significant milestone as a quadriplegic patient regained the ability to perform actions such as drinking water through brain control.
This advancement, spearheaded by the collaborative efforts of Professor Zhao Guoguang’s team from Capital Medical University Xuanwu Hospital and Professor Hong Bo’s team from Tsinghua University School of Medicine, represents a global first in the application of implantable extradural electrode brain-computer interfaces (BCI) for assisting patients with cervical spinal cord injuries.
On October 24, 2023, the teams successfully completed the first clinical implantation trial of the wireless, minimally invasive BCI device, NEO (Neural Electronic Opportunity), embedding two coin-sized processors into the skull of a patient with complete cervical spinal cord injury caused by a car accident. This 54-year-old male patient had been living with quadriplegia prior to the procedure.
Utilizing near-field wireless power supply and signal transmission, the NEO device operates without the need for an internal battery, a significant technological leap over existing BCI technologies, including those developed by high-profile companies like Neuralink.
The patient was able to return home ten days after the surgery, where the external device powers the internal mechanism through the scalp and receives neural signals to facilitate brain-computer communication.
After three months of home rehabilitation training, the patient demonstrated the ability to autonomously drink water using a pneumatic glove driven by brain activity, achieving a grasp accuracy rate of over 90%.
Both the ASIA clinical score and sensory evoked potentials showed improvements, indicating a positive impact on the patient’s spinal cord injury.
This clinical trial, which received approval in April 2023 and was registered internationally and domestically for implantable medical device clinical trials, showcases the potential of BCI technology not only in aiding patients with neurological diseases such as ALS, spinal cord injuries, and epilepsy but also in advancing human cognitive abilities through brain-machine integration.
The efforts of Professor Zhao Guoguang’s and Professor Hong Bo’s teams underline China’s commitment to leading in the field of medical technology, contributing significantly to the global understanding and application of BCI technology.
This milestone not only enhances the quality of life for individuals with severe disabilities but also opens new pathways for the treatment of neurological disorders and the development of advanced neurotechnological applications.