China Completes Landmark Brain Implant Trial on Paralyzed Patient

China has become the second country after the US to conduct human trials of invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, successfully implanting a coin-sized device and flexible electrodes into the brain of a 37-year-old man who lost all limbs in a high-voltage electrical accident. Within weeks of the March surgery, the patient was able to control a computer cursor with his mind, enabling him to play chess and video games and perform computer operations with near-normal proficiency. The implanted electrodes, developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, are the smallest and most flexible of their kind, minimizing disruption to brain tissue and allowing long-term coexistence without immune rejection. Following this trial, researchers plan to expand testing to patients with paralysis or ALS, aiming to include up to 40 participants by 2026. This breakthrough marks a significant advancement in neural implant technology, positioning China alongside the US in the brain implant race. The effort involves collaboration between the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huashan Hospital at Fudan University, and industry partners.