China created history, becoming the first nation to approve a commercially available brain chip for the treatment of disability. NEO, an implant developed by Neuracle Medical Technology, translates the thoughts of a person with paralysis into the movements of a supporting robotic hand.
After 18 months of testing that showed the implant was unthreatening, China’s National Medical Products Administration approved 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 Down Naturethe implant embedded in the skull is about the size of a coin. Eight electrodes protrude from the chip and are placed in the brain, an area that processes body movement. When the user imagines moving their hand, the chip sends a signal to the computer, which then translates it into actions performed by the prosthesis.
In practice, Neo allows you to activate a mechanical glove that can perform basic tasks: lifting objects, manipulating dishes or carrying hygiene items. Sources consulted by the magazine indicate that 32 people have already tested the device and reported no adverse side effects.
Although several companies are developing brain implants and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), none have yet received approval to sell their innovations as therapies. Even advanced projects like Neuralink have faced side effects that have held up all regulatory approvals.
A plan to dominate the brain implant industry
The development comes just months after China released a policy document outlining the country’s strategy to establish a globally competitive BCI industry within five years. The plan outlines 17 steps to research, develop and apply these technologies.
“The Chinese government has always supported breakthrough technologies. I think from the government’s perspective, this policy means that BCI technology has already moved from the concept level to the product level,” Phoenix Peng, co-founder of 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, head and ear mounted, such as hearing aids, face shields 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 goal: restoring autonomy to people with disabilities. There are experimental devices that allow users to communicate through “thought”, operate computers without moving a muscle, and even technologies that are beginning to restore vision. With Neo’s commercial approval, the industry is entering a recent phase.
This story originally appeared on WIRED in Spanish and was translated from Spanish.