A team of Chinese scientists from Nankai University has achieved a landmark breakthrough in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology by performing the world’s first interventional BCI experiment on a human patient. This innovative procedure has enabled a 67-year-old man, who was paralyzed on his left side due to a stroke, to regain significant movement in his arm.
The patient had been suffering from left-side paralysis for six months following a cerebral infarction. Through this less-invasive procedure, he was able to perform actions like grasping objects and taking medication with his left hand, marking a significant improvement in his quality of life.
Unlike traditional methods that require invasive skull-opening surgeries, such as those used by Elon Musk’s Neuralink, the team from Nankai University developed a pioneering technique that involves implanting a stent electrode into the skull through the neck’s blood vessels. Using high-precision imaging, the device is guided into the cranial blood vessel walls without the need for open surgery.
A wireless transmission and power supply unit was also implanted under the skin to collect and transmit the brain’s electrical signals. According to the Nankai team, the system has been operating stably without complications like infections, and it enables precise brain signal acquisition and interactive control.
“This approach significantly reduces surgical risks while maintaining high signal acquisition accuracy and offers a shorter recovery period,” said Professor Duan Feng, who led the research at Nankai University. “Our advancement lays the groundwork for future large-scale adoption and brings new hope to patients with motor dysfunctions like stroke.”
The team’s achievement follows their previous success in conducting the world’s first interventional BCI experiment on non-human primates earlier this year. Looking ahead, they plan to recruit more participants and explore additional rehabilitation methods to further advance this promising technology.
