China has made a significant advancement in medical technology by approving its first brain implant for commercial use, aimed at aiding individuals with paralysis. The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) granted the certification for this innovative brain-computer interface (BCI), allowing patients to regain partial control over hand movements.
The device has been developed by Neuracle Technology, a Shanghai-based startup that focuses on neurointerfaces. In clinical tests, the BCI system demonstrated its effectiveness on 36 patients, providing them with essential tools such as brain cortex sensors, a robotic glove, surgical instruments, a neural signal decoding algorithm, and software for both testing and clinical applications.
This technology specifically targets adult patients who have experienced partial paralysis resulting from spinal cord injuries, enabling them to perform tasks like grasping and holding objects. However, the use of this implant is limited to those who still have some ability in their upper arm, due to its fewer signal channels compared to more advanced systems from competitors.
