China creates medical breakthrough by implanting chip into paralyzed person's brain

Scientists at the China Institute of Brain Research (CIBR) have achieved a major breakthrough in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology with the successful implantation of the Beinao-1 brain-reading chip in humans.

This tiny device, about the size of a coin, promises to bring communication to patients who are paralyzed or have lost the ability to speak.

Cấy chip vào não người liệt, Trung Quốc tạo đột phá y học - 1 — The China Institute of Brain Research (CIBR) has successfully performed five human implantations of the Beinao-1 brain-reading chip (Photo: Getty).

According to Beijing Television, from March to May this year, CIBR performed five Beinao-1 implantations. The device is implanted under the skull and operates wirelessly, capable of decoding brain signals into speech, text or movement control through BCI technology.

Professor Luo Minmin, Director of CIBR, shared an impressive test case: a female patient in her 60s with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disease that completely deprived her of her mobility and ability to communicate.

“Before that, she was completely unable to speak. After the Beinao-1 implant, she was able to communicate in simple sentences,” said Professor Luo.

Beinao-1 is the product of NeuCyber NeuroTech, a neurotechnology company founded by CIBR in 2023. Despite being born after its major US competitors, the Chinese research team said the number of patients enrolled in the trial exceeded its capacity, showing that the need for practical applications of this technology is huge.

On the international stage, the BCI race is heating up with the participation of Elon Musk’s Neuralink and Synchron (a US-Australian startup) backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. Neuralink has also tested implants on 5 patients, while Synchron leads with more than 10 implants in the US and Australia.

China accelerates in brain technology race

The United States is a pioneer in neurotechnology with the BRAIN Initiative, launched in 2013, with a total investment of more than $3 billion. However, China is accelerating significantly, despite starting nearly a decade late.

Since 2016, brain technology has been officially included in the National Five-Year Plan, clearly demonstrating long-term investment orientation and considering this a strategic spearhead.

Cấy chip vào não người liệt, Trung Quốc tạo đột phá y học - 2 — The chip will be a great support for paralyzed people (Photo: Getty).

Professor Luo acknowledged that the US still leads in both invasive (chip implantation) and non-invasive (extracranial signal acquisition) technology, but he also emphasized the differences in approach between the sides.

“Comparing Beinao-1 and Neuralink is like comparing apples to oranges. The design, implant area, signal acquisition, and data transmission methods are all different,” he said.

While Neuralink focuses on high precision, reading signals from individual neurons to control limbs or a computer cursor, Beinao-1 prioritizes recording signals from a larger area of the brain, thereby supporting basic communication – crucial for patients who have lost language due to nerve damage.

According to a forecast by Precedence Research, the global brain-computer interface market could reach $12.4 billion by 2034, up nearly five times from $2.6 billion in 2023. This is a field that is considered to have the potential to fundamentally change neuromedicine, helping people with paralysis, loss of speech or brain degeneration restore the ability to connect with the world .

“If Beinao-1 is proven to be safe and effective, we hope to expand its clinical application not only in China but also globally,” said Professor Luo.

In the near future, BCI technology is expected to not only support patients but also be applied in the fields of learning, memory enhancement, and controlling smart devices with thoughts.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/cay-chip-vao-nao-nguoi-liet-trung-quoc-tao-dot-pha-y-hoc-20250723122921457.htm