Shenfu Jianxing Unveils World's First 32-Channel Integrated Implantable Brain-Spinal Interface System to Restore Mobility for Spinal Cord Injury Patients

(Source: Shanghai Observer)

For paralyzed patients, their limbs and brain nerves are disconnected. To regain mobility, a "bridge" must be built between the limbs and nerves. Jia Fumin, the founder of Shen Rehabilitation (Shanghai) Medical Device Co., Ltd., is precisely the "bridge builder."

Jia Fumin has been devoted to research since 2020 and officially started his business in 2025, focusing on the field of brain-spinal interface neuromodulation, aiming to solve the global public health challenge of spinal cord injury. Today, Shenfu Jianxing has become the first and currently the only company in China dedicated to the development of implantable brain-spinal interfaces. It pioneered the 32-channel "three-in-one" implantable brain-spinal interface system, accelerating the industrialization of this cutting-edge technology. Reflecting on those years of perseverance, Jia Fumin has no regrets: "In life, one must do something that creates absolute value for society."

"Five years ago, everyone thought I was daydreaming."

Since 2010, Jia Fumin has been engaged in neuromodulation research at Tsinghua University, participating in the development of therapeutic devices for chronic diseases such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. At that time, the medical device industry was in a period of "domestic substitution," which was quite a stable choice for personal career development.

But Jiafumin has a knot in his heart. "Parkinson's patients have at least some medication to take, but for paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries, there is no treatment available anywhere in the world." China adds tens of thousands of new spinal cord injury patients each year, and the vast majority of them will spend the rest of their lives in wheelchairs.

In 2020, a key variable emerged: artificial intelligence. Jia Fumin judged that the maturity of AI technology would make it possible to rebuild neural signal pathways between the brain and spinal cord. Therefore, he resolutely left the familiar field of neuromodulation, leading his team into the "uncharted territory" of global innovation.

"Five years ago, everyone thought I was daydreaming." In 2020, Jia Fumin came to Fudan University to conduct research. During that time, the team worked tirelessly in the lab day and night, with most experiments ending in failure, causing some to begin doubting. At that time, Jia Fumin often sat alone in the lab late at night, staring at the scattered streetlights outside the window, repeatedly asking himself if such persistence was worthwhile. "Many people will praise you for having aspirations to your face, but who knows what they say behind your back. Is choosing to do something that may not yield results even in the short term or know when it will bear fruit in the future, right or wrong?"

The most difficult part is the nerve root imaging technology. Conventional MRI examines large organs such as the spinal cord and heart, but the nerve roots that control walking are micron-level structures, which cannot be resolved by conventional examination. The team...Fudan ZhangjiangThe Imaging Center spent two years developing the imaging sequence.

The turning point came on an experimental day without any warning.

Jia Fumin described it as if a sudden burst of light had appeared, making the images instantly clear. This breakthrough made the subsequent AI algorithm reconstruction and surgical navigation system development possible.

Persistence always pays off. The team spent five years navigating through this "uncharted territory" and pioneered the world’s first 32-channel "three-in-one" implantable brain-spinal interface system — with 16 electrode contacts implanted at each end of the motor cortex in the brain and the spinal cord, serving as "signal stations" to capture the brain's intention to walk in real time, translating it into electrical signals that the spinal cord can understand, enabling patients to regain movement. Like reconnecting a severed "neural telephone line," the device integrates sensing, computation, and regulation, offering significant advantages such as high precision, high throughput, high integration, low latency, and minimal invasiveness.

To be the true "pioneer" in the field of clinical medicine

During the advancement process, the team successively broke through multiple core technical barriers, such as improving the accuracy of nerve root reconstruction, integrating the "three-in-one" system architecture, and reducing decoding latency. The system significantly reduces operational power consumption, surgery time, and trauma by accurately identifying patients' motor intention through EEG signals and driving lower limb movement.

In 2025, the Jia Fumin team reached a historic milestone. At Zhongshan Hospital and Huashan Hospital, both affiliated with Fudan University, they assisted doctors in performing brain-spinal interface treatments on four consecutive patients with spinal cord injuries. After three weeks of treatment, all four patients, who had completely lost their motor abilities, regained voluntary motor control. "What we've persisted in for the past five years has finally found an answer."

In the same year, this scientific research achievement received funding from the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission's major project Brain-Computer Interface Future Industry Cultivation Action Plan and the National Disruptive Technology Innovation Key Special Project. Meanwhile, Shenfu Jianxing successfully secured over 100 million yuan in investment and obtained FDA Breakthrough Device Designation. "As medical technology professionals, we want to address some issues that current clinical medicine cannot solve, and achieve true 'pioneering' breakthroughs."

"When the 32-channel 'three-in-one' implantable brain-spinal interface system was officially completed, Jia Fumin poured a bucket of cold water on himself: 'Patients still need suspension assistance to walk now. Can we add more technology to help them regain autonomous walking? Everything is not over yet.'"

So, he returned to the front line of scientific research. "We need to continuously iterate the system and carry out large-scale applications." Moreover, Jia Fumin hopes to bring the technology overseas to serve more patients around the world.

Shanghai Gave Jia Fumin a Stage to Build Dreams. The Company in PudongWaigaoqiaoDuring registration, support was obtained from the production site; Fudan Science and Innovation Fund, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Venture Capital Co., Ltd., etc. all invested in it.

"The city of Shanghai has an inclusive and pragmatic atmosphere that drives me to keep innovating and moving forward." Jia Fumin also shared his experience with other young entrepreneurs, "The better the environment, the more we should do what has not been achieved globally."

Original Title: "Pioneering 'Three-in-One' Implantable Brain-Spinal Interface System, Acting as a 'Bridge Builder' for Spinal Cord Injury Patients"

Column Editor: Wang Jiayi Text Editor: Zhou Chen Title Image Source: Shanghai View Title Image

Source: Author: Wen Hui Bao, Zhan Yue