China has made history by becoming the first nation to approve a commercially available brain chip to treat a disability. NEO, the implant developed by Neuracle Medical Technology, translates the thoughts of a person with paralysis into movements of an assistive robotic hand.
After 18 months of testing that proved its safety, China’s National Medical Products Administration authorized the implant for people aged 19 to 60 with paralysis caused by neck or spinal cord injuries that prevent them from moving their limbs.
According to Nature, the implant embedded in the skull is about the size of a coin. Eight electrodes protrude from the chip and are placed on the brain, in the area that processes body movement. When the user imagines moving their hand, the chip sends a signal to a computer, which then translates it into actions performed by a prosthesis.
In practice, Neo allows thought to activate a mechanical glove capable of performing basic tasks: picking up objects, manipulating utensils, or moving hygiene items. Sources consulted by the magazine indicate that 32 people have already tested the device without reporting any adverse side effects.
Although several companies are developing brain implants and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), none have yet received authorization to market their innovations as treatments. Even advanced projects, such as Neuralink, have faced side effects that have stalled any regulatory approval.
The Plan to Dominate the Brain Implant Industry
This development comes just months after China issued a policy document that outlines the country’s strategy to create a globally competitive BCI industry within five years. The plan outlines 17 steps to lead the research, development, and application of these technologies.
“The Chinese government has always supported disruptive technologies. I think from the government’s point of view, this policy means that BCI technology has already moved from the concept level to the product level,” Phoenix Peng, cofounder NeuroXess and Gestala, both BCI companies, told WIRED earlier this year.
The policy document promotes the mass production of non-invasive, non-implantable devices in various forms: forehead-mounted, head-mounted, and ear-mounted, such as hearing aids, visors, and glasses. It also proposes testing these technologies in high-risk sectors, such as hazardous materials handling, nuclear energy, mining, and electricity generation.
For now, brain implants have a clear objective: to restore autonomy to people with disabilities. Experimental devices exist that allow users to communicate with “thoughts ,” operate computers without moving a muscle, and even technologies that are beginning to restore vision. With the commercial approval of Neo, the industry enters a new phase.
This story originally appeared on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.