The world's first commercial brain-computer interface (BCI) surgery for hand movement compensation was successfully performed on July 13th at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University in Shanghai. The implantable system, known as "NEO" and developed by Neuracle Medical Technology (Shanghai) Co Ltd, received market approval in March, making it the first approved implantable BCI Class III medical device globally. This marks a significant transition of BCI technology from experimental research to clinical application, offering hope for millions of paralyzed patients with spinal cord injuries.
The patient, who underwent the surgery, suffered a spinal cord injury a decade ago, leading to impaired hand grasping function. Intraoperative tests confirmed stable and high-quality epidural electroencephalogram signals collected by the NEO system, and the patient's condition remains stable post-surgery. The BCI system works by capturing and decoding epidural EEG signals to identify motor intention, establishing a communication pathway between the brain and an external pneumatic glove device to assist with hand-grasping function. This technology is expected to significantly improve patients' ability to perform daily activities.
While the technology is in its early stages and requires intensive rehabilitation, experts anticipate its expansion beyond high-cervical spinal cord injuries to include lower-limb recovery and language restoration. The surgery and device combined cost approximately 600,000 yuan (roughly $88,000), a fraction of comparable neurosurgical interventions in Western countries. Furthermore, China's Huhuibao, an affordable supplementary insurance program, is set to help cover the costs for eligible residents, underscoring China's push in advanced medical technology and its potential for medical tourism. The market for BCI in China is projected to reach 5.58 billion yuan ($818.46 million) by 2027, with an average annual growth of 20%.
