China has taken the lead in the field of brain-implantable chips. According to reports, doctors in Shanghai have performed the first commercial implantation of a brain-computer interface (BCI) in a patient. The patient had suffered a spinal cord injury, and with the help of the chip he can now move his hand. With this development, brain-implantable chip technology has moved beyond clinical trials to real-world use. American entrepreneur Elon Musk’s company, Neuralink, is also developing a brain chip, although it is currently in the trial stage.
**Surgery in Shanghai**
According to media reports, the surgery to implant the chip was done at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University in Shanghai. The patient had been in a car accident about a decade ago, which had injured his spinal cord and left him unable to use his hands. A team of doctors has now implanted a brain-computer interface named NEO (Neural Electronic Opportunity) in the patient’s brain. Reports suggest that the patient is stable after the surgery, and tests have confirmed that the chip is successfully capturing high-quality brain signals.
**What is NEO system?**
The NEO brain chip was developed by Neural Technology in collaboration with Tsinghua University. It is designed to help paralyzed patients regain the ability to walk and move. It was approved for commercial use in March. This device is approximately the size of a coin and is placed on the surface of the brain. It captures signals coming from the brain and converts them into commands for an external device. For example, when the patient tries to move his or her hand, the device captures that signal and sends it to a computer, which then gives commands to the robotic glove. This enables people with limited mobility to perform some everyday tasks. Neuralink is also conducting trials.
Elon Musk’s company, Neuralink, is also working on similar technology. Neuralink’s chip has been implanted in several patients as part of a clinical trial. This chip has been named ‘Telepathy’. With its help, patients can control smartphones, computers and other digital devices using their thoughts.