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China’s NEO BCI device aids spinal cord injury patients in new trials

It shows promise for the future of medical technology in brain implants

09-Dec-2024

Key points from article :

China is advancing brain-computer interface (BCI) technology with a new device called NEO, developed by Neuracle Technology and Tsinghua University’s biomedical engineering team. NEO has already been successfully implanted in three patients, including one with a spinal cord injury, showing promising results. The device was implanted into a 38-year-old patient who had lost mobility and hand function after a car accident. The procedure involved embedding a coin-sized device in the skull to collect neural signals from sensory and motor brain areas, with power and signal transmission facilitated by an external magnetic coil.

Unlike Elon Musk’s Neuralink, NEO uses a semi-invasive approach by positioning electrodes outside the brain, avoiding direct contact with brain tissue. The implantation was completed in just 1 hour and 40 minutes, thanks to an innovative online brain function localization system that helped surgeons quickly identify the hand motor and sensory brain regions. The results were impressive, with the patient able to control a prosthetic glove to perform tasks like picking up a water cup and unscrewing a bottle cap.

The procedure was carried out smoothly, with the patient’s recovery showing noticeable improvements. Previous implantations in Beijing had also demonstrated success, with paralyzed patients able to move a computer cursor and drink water. In August, NEO became the first BCI to receive China’s “green channel” approval for innovative medical devices.

Plans for a larger clinical trial in 2025 will involve at least 30 implantations across China. The device is expected to be available for clinical use by 2027. The announcement was made at the BCI Society and Chen Institute Joint BCI Meeting in Shanghai, where experts discussed the future of BCI technology. 

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Neuracle Technology

Brain-computer interface tech

Tsinghua University

Research university in Beijing, China

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Brain Interface
China’s NEO BCI device aids spinal cord injury patients in new trials