According to China Central Television, China has made a major breakthrough in the field of brain-computer interface technology. Recently, the first clinical trial of an intravenous brain-computer interface to assist in the recovery of motor function in patients with paralyzed limbs, led by a team from Nankai University, helped a 67-year-old patient, Mr. Zheng, recover some motor functions.
Mr. Zheng had been bedridden for more than half a year due to three cerebral infarctions and was unable to take care of himself. In June this year, he participated in the clinical trial and, after about three months of rehabilitation training, is now able to walk with the help of a cane and even independently pick up a cup to drink water.
This technology, named "intravenous brain-computer interface," is a minimally invasive surgery. Doctors use neck blood vessels to introduce a stent equipped with brain electrodes thinner than a hair into the blood vessel walls of the corresponding brain area to collect brain signals. The stent is made of biocompatible materials such as titanium alloy. This technology has now launched multi-center clinical trials and has been included in the "Ethical Guidelines for Brain-Computer Interface Research" issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology. In the future, this technology has the potential to provide new treatment options for patients with motor dysfunction caused by stroke, paralysis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
It is reported that on September 16, the National Medical Products Administration approved and released the **"Medical Device Terminology for Brain-Computer Interface Technology"** industry standard. This is the first medical device standard for brain-computer interface in China, which will be officially implemented on January 1, 2026, laying a solid foundation for high-quality industrial development.
In addition, in August this year, seven departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly issued the **"Opinions on Promoting the Innovation and Development of the Brain-Computer Interface Industry"**, setting clear development goals: by 2027, key technologies will achieve breakthroughs, and a preliminary technical, industrial, and standard system will be established, with electrodes, chips, and complete machine products reaching international advanced levels; by 2030, a safe, reliable, and internationally competitive industrial ecosystem will be formed, and the overall strength will enter the world's forefront.
