China Moves Ahead Of Neuralink with Commercial Brain-Computer Implant Procedure

(MENAFN) Chinese researchers have reportedly achieved a major milestone in brain-computer interface technology by completing a commercial implant procedure using an approved device, becoming the first to do so with a non-invasive system of this type.

The operation was performed on Monday at a hospital in Shanghai involving a patient who had suffered a spinal cord injury in a traffic accident a decade ago. Despite undergoing extensive rehabilitation, the patient continued to experience limited movement in the hands.

During the procedure, doctors placed a small, coin-sized implant on the surface of the patient’s brain. The device is designed to detect neural signals and transmit them to a computer system, which then converts the signals into commands that control a robotic glove.

Officials said the operation was completed successfully and that the patient’s condition remained stable during recovery. They also reported that the implant had already demonstrated the ability to collect consistent, high-quality brain activity signals.

The device, called NEO, was created by Chinese technology company Neuracle and received approval from Chinese medical authorities in March. The authorization allowed the technology to transition from research trials into commercial medical use.

The development marks a step forward for Neuracle in the global competition to bring implantable brain-computer interfaces to the market, placing it ahead of Elon Musk’s Neuralink in terms of commercial approval. While Neuralink has implanted its technology in human participants and reportedly has dozens of people involved in trials, the company has not yet obtained full approval for commercial use in the United States.

Unlike Neuralink’s system, NEO is designed as a less invasive solution, positioned on the brain’s surface rather than inserted into brain tissue. Its primary goal is to help people with physical disabilities regain control over lost limb functions.

Neuralink’s technology uses extremely thin threads that are implanted directly into the brain using a specialized surgical robot. The company’s first product, known as Telepathy, aims to enable individuals with paralysis to operate computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices through brain signals alone.

Several other firms are also exploring alternative approaches to brain-computer communication. US-based Synchron has developed a system that can be inserted through blood vessels without requiring open-brain surgery, while Meta has been developing artificial intelligence technology capable of converting non-invasive brain scans into written text.

MENAFN19072026000045017281ID1111414428