A pioneering breakthrough in brain-computer interface technology has been achieved by a team from Nankai University, marking the initiation of the world's first interventional human BCI experiment on a patient.

On Sunday, the Nankai team reported that their innovative procedure successfully enabled a 67-year-old male patient, previously paralyzed, to regain significant limb functionality.

The patient had been suffering from paralysis on his left side for six months as a result of a cerebral infarction, but after the procedure, he was able to perform actions such as grasping and taking medication.

In contrast to the invasive skull-opening surgery employed by Neuralink, this novel technique utilized a method to implant a device into the skull via the neck's blood vessels. The device, known as a stent electrode, was precisely guided into the cranial blood vessel wall using advanced imaging techniques.

Additionally, a wireless transmission and power supply unit was subcutaneously implanted to capture and relay brain electrical signals, as explained by the Nankai research team.

Following the surgery, the system has functioned impeccably without complications such as infection, demonstrating its capability for accurate brain signal collection and interactive control.

Duan Feng, the professor leading the research, highlighted that this method significantly lowers surgical risks while maintaining high signal acquisition accuracy and facilitating a quicker recovery.

This advancement not only establishes a foundation for wider implementation but also brings new optimism for patients suffering from motor dysfunctions, including those affected by strokes.

This initiative follows the team's earlier achievement in 2023 when they conducted the first interventional BCI experiment on non-human primates.

Looking ahead, the team intends to recruit additional participants and investigate further rehabilitation techniques.