Chinese Brain Chip Regains Movement for Paralyzed Man

Researchers at Tsinghua University in China have developed a wireless brain-computer interface implant called the Neural Electronic Opportunity (NEO), which represents a significant advancement in neural technology. A patient with a spinal cord damage participated in a clinical trial where this novel device showed notable results. Without endangering neurons, the patient was able to use brain impulses to operate a prosthetic hand.

The NEO system stands out for being small—smaller than two coins—and for being implanted directly into the skull without requiring any batteries. It gathers brain signals and sends them to an external receiver via wireless power and electrodes, whereupon a computer or smartphone may decode the signals.

The field of brain-computer interface (BCI) presents a number of interesting applications for people with epilepsy and spinal cord injuries. The Tsinghua University team highlights how minimally invasive this implant is and how little disruption it causes to the body. Interestingly, they take a different tack than other initiatives of a similar nature, including Elon Musk’s Neuralink, because they think their NEO system finds a suitable compromise between invasiveness and performance.

The first trial, involving a patient with a spinal cord injury, produced good outcomes after just three months of recovery. The patient showed that he could operate a prosthetic hand, and more advancements in hand functions and movements are anticipated with continued research and therapy.

The scientists intend to investigate further uses for this technology, especially in terms of quickening the development of new neurons in injured spinal cord segments. This discovery represents a major breakthrough in neural interface technology and may provide relief for those suffering from neurological disorders and spinal cord injuries.