China Achieves Breakthrough in Human-Machine Interaction with First Clinical Implant of Next-Gen Flexible Brain-Computer Interface

China News Service, Changchun, October 24th (reported by Guo Jia) -- On the 24th, the reporter learned from the China-Japan Friendship Hospital of Jilin University that the hospital's neurosurgery team successfully implanted a new generation of flexible brain-computer interface independently developed in China into a 52-year-old patient with glioma in the functional area of the brain, which can achieve high-throughput single-cell action potential acquisition. The hospital stated that this is China's first clinical implant surgery of an invasive flexible brain-computer interface with over a hundred channels.

Surgery was completed by the neurosurgery team of Gao Yufei and Zhang Jinnan from the hospital in collaboration with Beijing Bciflex Medical Technology Co., Ltd. The team utilized an intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging system to precisely identify functional areas of the cerebral cortex during the neurosurgical procedure.RobotUnder the guidance, the high-throughput flexible electrode was accurately implanted into the cerebral cortex with an error of less than 0.5 millimeters.

According to the introduction, the advanced intraoperative neurosurgical visualization system provides full-process 4K ultra-high-definition magnified image monitoring, effectively avoiding intracranial structures including capillaries and ensuring surgical safety. After the patient regained consciousness from anesthesia, they reported feeling well.

Brain-computer interface technology is a cutting-edge science that enables direct two-way interaction between the brain and external devices. It can translate brain electrical signals into commands recognizable by computers, allowing people to control external devices, such as mechanical exoskeletons, wheelchairs, and computer cursors, through "thoughts."

The 128-channel invasive brain-computer interface implanted this time features flexible electrodes with a diameter only about one-tenth of a hair, as soft as cotton, yet capable of achieving over a hundred-channel single-cell level EEG acquisition; a coin-sized wireless module implanted under the scalp can transmit signals; combined with a large model AI analysis system, it forms a complete brain-computer interface ecosystem.

Gao Yufei said in an interview that this technology is expected to be used in the rehabilitation of brain diseases, the reconstruction of motor functions for people with disabilities, and barrier-free human-computer interaction in the future. (END)