A major breakthrough in neurotechnology has been achieved with the successful completion of China's first-in-human clinical trial of an invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) system. With that China becomes the second country in the world to reach the clinical stage in this field.

The trial was led by the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CEBSIT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with Fudan University's Huashan Hospital.

The participant — a man who lost all four limbs in a high-voltage electrical accident — received the implant in March. The system has remained stable, with no signs of infection or electrode failure. After two to three weeks of training, the recipient is able to control a computer touchpad with accuracy comparable to that of an individual using hands.

The implant is one of the smallest and most flexible neural devices ever developed globally, measuring only 26 mm in diameter and less than six mm thick — comparable to the size of a coin. It has been designed to minimize the sensation of having a foreign body implanted in the brain and tissue damage.

Prior to the human trial, the system was tested on non-human primates using CEBSIT's advanced macaque research platform.

Technologically, the system captures high-resolution neural signals at the single-neuron level in real time, enabling rapid decoding of motor intent. It incorporates an adaptive decoding algorithm that adjusts to the brain's dynamic signals, overcoming the limitations of traditional static models and enabling stable, low-latency performance across multiple days.

Upon regulatory approval, this system may offer transformative support for individuals with grave spinal cord injury, limb loss, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, significantly enhancing their quality of life.