我国首例侵入式脑机接口临床试验成功

Core Viewpoint - The successful initiation of China's first invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) clinical trial marks the country as the second globally, following the United States, to enter this stage of clinical testing [1] Group 1: Clinical Trial Details - The clinical trial is a collaboration between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Fudan University, focusing on a 37-year-old male subject who lost his limbs due to an electrical accident [2] - The BCI device was implanted in March 2023, and the system has been stable without infections or electrode failures for over a month [2] - The subject can control a computer touchpad to play chess and racing games using thought alone, achieving a level comparable to that of a normal person after just 2-3 weeks of training [2] Group 2: Research and Development - A dedicated team for BCI research was established under the "14th Five-Year Plan," focusing on various aspects such as motor perception and neural function repair [3] - The developed flexible neural electrodes are significantly smaller and more flexible than those used by Neuralink, reducing damage to brain tissue [3][5] - The electrodes have demonstrated high-density, large-area, and long-term stable neural signal acquisition capabilities in various animal models [3] Group 3: Surgical Procedure - The implanted device is the smallest of its kind globally, measuring 26mm in diameter and less than 6mm in thickness, which is half the size of Neuralink's product [8] - The surgery involves a minimally invasive technique, taking about 20-30 minutes, and is performed using a high-precision navigation system [9][11] - Pre-surgical planning included creating a detailed 3D model of the subject's brain to ensure precise electrode placement [11] Group 4: Future Prospects - The project team plans to conduct additional clinical trials, with expectations to perform 3-4 more trials by 2025 and initiate multi-center trials by 2026 [11] - The BCI system aims to assist patients with complete spinal cord injuries and other conditions in controlling external devices to improve their quality of life [11] - Future developments may include enabling subjects to control robotic arms and other intelligent devices, expanding their functional capabilities [12]