武汉完成全国首例“医保价”脑机接口手术

Core Insights - The article discusses the successful implantation of a brain-computer interface (BCI) in a spinal cord injury patient in China, marking a significant advancement in the clinical application of BCI technology [3][4] - This procedure is the first in China to be executed under a government-approved medical service pricing system, indicating a shift from research to standardized medical practice for BCI [3][4] Group 1: Clinical Application of BCI - The first invasive BCI surgery in China was performed on a 31-year-old patient, who suffered from high-level paraplegia due to an accident, using a device with 64-channel flexible electrodes to monitor brain signals [3] - The surgery was conducted at Huazhong University of Science and Technology's Tongji Hospital, with the procedure costing 6,552 yuan per instance, excluding the cost of the BCI device [3][4] Group 2: Policy and Regulatory Framework - In March 2023, the Hubei Provincial Medical Insurance Bureau established the first national pricing for BCI medical services, setting the invasive BCI implantation fee at 6,552 yuan per instance [4] - The implementation of this pricing policy is seen as a crucial step in integrating BCI technology into the standardized medical treatment system, paving the way for broader clinical applications in the future [4]