Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent A-round financing of Zhiruan Medical, highlighting its focus on invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technology and the advancements in flexible electrode development [7][9]. Company Overview - Zhiruan Medical has completed over 300 million yuan in A-round financing, with total funding since its establishment in 2022 nearing 500 million yuan [7][8]. - The company was co-founded by Dr. Fang Ying and Dr. Song Qi, both of whom have extensive backgrounds in neuroscience and AI medical technology [8]. Technology and Innovation - Zhiruan Medical specializes in invasive BCI technology, which allows for high-resolution neural signal collection and precise neuron modulation through implanted electrodes [9]. - The company has developed a high-throughput flexible electrode that has received patent authorization in both China and the U.S., achieving high efficiency in neuron signal collection [9][10]. - A fully implanted wireless signal acquisition system has been created, capable of collecting action potentials from up to 1024 channels, with a significant reduction in power consumption [10]. Research and Development - The company has established a high-precision brain data platform with over 20TB of animal neuron data and 6TB of human deep brain region data, enhancing model training speed and decoding performance [10]. - Zhiruan Medical has also developed a multi-degree-of-freedom implantation robot to improve the efficiency and safety of electrode implantation [10]. Industry Context - The global BCI industry is entering a rapid development phase, with companies like Neuralink making progress in human clinical trials [11]. - The shift from rigid to flexible electrodes is seen as crucial for improving signal quality and stability, which is essential for clinical applications [11]. - Invasive BCI technology holds potential for breakthroughs in treating conditions such as spinal cord injuries, ALS, and depression [11].

Core Insights - The article discusses a groundbreaking brain-computer interface (BCI) technology that enables real-time conversion of brain signals into speech, offering new hope for individuals with speech impairments due to neurological conditions [1][14]. Group 1: Technology Overview - BCI technology is seen as a promising method for restoring language abilities by decoding brain activity and bypassing damaged parts of the nervous system [2]. - Most current BCI systems focus on converting brain signals into text displayed on screens, which, while accurate, still face challenges such as conversation delays and inability to replicate vocal nuances [3]. Group 2: Research Findings - A new study published in *Nature* showcases a novel BCI system that was implanted in a patient with severe speech impairment due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), utilizing four arrays of microelectrodes to record neural activity [4][6]. - The system decodes the patient's intended sounds rather than specific words or phonemes, aiming to directly reproduce speech [8]. - The research allows for a broader range of vocal expressions, including non-standard words and pitch variations, enabling the patient to express emotions and nuances in speech [9]. Group 3: Performance Metrics - The system achieves a speech output delay of 1/40 seconds, closely matching the natural delay experienced when humans hear their own voice [10]. - In tests, listeners could correctly identify nearly 60% of the words produced by the system, a significant improvement from a mere 4% recognition rate when the patient spoke without the BCI [10]. Group 4: Future Implications - The study indicates a paradigm shift in communication tools for individuals unable to speak, paving the way for practical language assistance technologies [14]. - The research team emphasizes that the "neural voice prosthesis" is still in its early stages, with future efforts needed to replicate results in a broader patient population, including those with speech loss from strokes [15].

N1 植入设备只有硬币大小，外科医生在R1机器人的引导下，将包含毛发状电极的微型线插入大脑目标区域，以记录活动。当N1植入大脑（例如控制手臂的 部分）并且该区域的神经元放电时，信号可以传输到计算机。 报名：首届全球心血管大会 | 重磅亮点 合作伙伴征集：2025全球手术机器人大会 2025年4月24日，根据彭博新闻社报道，知情人士表示脑机接口公司Neuralink计划以 85亿美元（约合620.13亿人民币） 的投前估值筹集约 5亿美元（约 合36.48亿人民币） 资金。公司已开始与潜在投资者进行初步讨论，但融资条款尚未最终敲定。 # 核 心 技术 Neuralink 是埃隆·马斯克在2016年成立的一家高科技公司，总部位于美国， 专注于开发侵入式脑机接口（BCI）技术 。该公司的目标是通过制造微米级别 的设备，将人脑与机器接口连接起来， 以实现人脑与机器的交互 。 N1植入设备 由于 N1 植入设备的线程非常细小，无法通过人工手动植入，因此 Neuralink 开发了专门的手术机器人。该机器人能够可靠且高效地将线程准确插入预定位 置。 高密度电极设计： N1 植入设备包含1024个电极，分布在64根线程上， ...