China launches 1st clinical trial for fully implantable BCI

China on Monday launched its first multi-center clinical trial for a fully implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) system, marking a major step forward in the clinical application of the country's domestically developed high-throughput invasive BCI technology.

Quadriplegia caused by spinal cord injuries remains one of the most challenging problems in neurological medicine, with existing rehabilitation methods offering limited recovery of motor functions for many patients.

Currently, BCI technologies mainly follow three technical approaches: non-invasive, semi-invasive and fully invasive systems. The fully implantable BCI technology used in the new trial allows electrodes to directly interact with brain neurons, significantly improving the resolution and clarity of neural signals collected from the brain.

Researchers said the higher-quality signals could help more accurately decode movement intentions and support precise neural function regulation, laying the groundwork for advanced rehabilitation therapies.

The clinical trial will initially focus on patients suffering from limb dysfunction caused by high cervical spinal cord injuries. The first group includes 32 patients, with the scope expected to expand gradually in the future.