China performs 4th brain-spine interface surgery on paralyzed patients
China has successfully performed its fourth brain-spine interface surgery on patients with paralysis. This innovative procedure aims to enhance communication between the brain and spinal cord, offering new hope for individuals with severe mobility impairments.
TroibNews 
A group of Chinese scientists and surgeons has successfully performed a minimally invasive "brain-spine interface" surgery, which restored a paralyzed patient's ability to stand and walk within just 24 hours after the procedure.
This surgery, the fourth of its kind aimed at clinical proof of concept, took place at Zhongshan Hospital in Shanghai. It was notable for being the first in the world to allow an individual suffering from total paraplegia — an impairment affecting motor or sensory functions in the lower extremities — to stand and walk using BSI technology, as announced by the hospital on Tuesday.
The patient, surnamed Lin, hails from Guangdong Province in southern China and is 34 years old. Two years ago, he experienced a severe fall from a height of four meters, resulting in critical spinal injuries and a brain hemorrhage. Despite undergoing comprehensive treatment, Lin found his legs completely paralyzed, which left him reliant on a wheelchair. Spinal cord injuries disrupt the signals between the brain and the spinal cord, particularly in areas that control ambulation, resulting in paralysis.
Lin arrived in Shanghai in January 2025 to become the inaugural participant in a clinical trial for brain-spine interface technology. This innovative technology is a collaborative effort between Zhongshan Hospital and the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence at Fudan University. The trial, guided by Professors Wang Xin and Ding Jing from Zhongshan Hospital, along with Jia Fumin from Fudan University, is focused on assessing the safety and efficacy of epidural electrical stimulation for restoring motor functions in spinal cord injury patients.
In cases of spinal cord injury, the interruption of the connection between the brain and spinal neurons often results in varied degrees of paralysis. Professor Jia's team has made strides with a new "three-in-one" BSI technology. Through a minimally invasive surgical approach, they established a "neural bridge" connecting the brain and spinal cord, enabling the collection and decoding of brain signals, as well as delivering precisely targeted electrical stimulation to certain nerve roots. This novel strategy enables paralyzed individuals to regain movement in their limbs, signifying a significant advancement in the treatment of spinal injuries.
During the minimally invasive procedure, two electrode chips, each measuring roughly one millimeter in diameter, were implanted into the motor cortex of the brain. The entire operation, which included interventions on both the brain and spinal cord, was concluded in just four hours. According to Professor Jia, the patient regained leg movement within 24 hours post-surgery with the aid of artificial intelligence.
One of the primary challenges associated with BSI technology is the limited capacity for implanting electrodes in the human body, as well as the need to decode human movement intentions in real time.
"If a patient wants to lift their leg, but the algorithm fails to decode the intention or delays by even a few seconds, the patient could fall," Jia said. After nearly three years of persistent research, the team achieved a significant breakthrough in algorithm development, allowing for real-time interpretation of brain movement signals.
From January to February this year, the team successfully completed three clinical proof-of-concept surgeries. Patients with severe spinal cord injuries regained the ability to control their legs and walk within a two-week timeframe.
"The treatment outcomes for these paralyzed patients met or even exceeded our expectations, preliminarily demonstrating the feasibility of the next-generation brain-spine interface solution. The completion of four surgeries across two hospitals also proves that this technology is replicable and scalable. This is not just a technological victory but the beginning of a new life for paralyzed patients," said Jia.
The research team plans to continue refining and enhancing the technology, with the goal of restoring walking abilities for more individuals with spinal injuries and offering hope to millions of patients and their families around the globe.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
This surgery, the fourth of its kind aimed at clinical proof of concept, took place at Zhongshan Hospital in Shanghai. It was notable for being the first in the world to allow an individual suffering from total paraplegia — an impairment affecting motor or sensory functions in the lower extremities — to stand and walk using BSI technology, as announced by the hospital on Tuesday.
The patient, surnamed Lin, hails from Guangdong Province in southern China and is 34 years old. Two years ago, he experienced a severe fall from a height of four meters, resulting in critical spinal injuries and a brain hemorrhage. Despite undergoing comprehensive treatment, Lin found his legs completely paralyzed, which left him reliant on a wheelchair. Spinal cord injuries disrupt the signals between the brain and the spinal cord, particularly in areas that control ambulation, resulting in paralysis.
Lin arrived in Shanghai in January 2025 to become the inaugural participant in a clinical trial for brain-spine interface technology. This innovative technology is a collaborative effort between Zhongshan Hospital and the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence at Fudan University. The trial, guided by Professors Wang Xin and Ding Jing from Zhongshan Hospital, along with Jia Fumin from Fudan University, is focused on assessing the safety and efficacy of epidural electrical stimulation for restoring motor functions in spinal cord injury patients.
In cases of spinal cord injury, the interruption of the connection between the brain and spinal neurons often results in varied degrees of paralysis. Professor Jia's team has made strides with a new "three-in-one" BSI technology. Through a minimally invasive surgical approach, they established a "neural bridge" connecting the brain and spinal cord, enabling the collection and decoding of brain signals, as well as delivering precisely targeted electrical stimulation to certain nerve roots. This novel strategy enables paralyzed individuals to regain movement in their limbs, signifying a significant advancement in the treatment of spinal injuries.
During the minimally invasive procedure, two electrode chips, each measuring roughly one millimeter in diameter, were implanted into the motor cortex of the brain. The entire operation, which included interventions on both the brain and spinal cord, was concluded in just four hours. According to Professor Jia, the patient regained leg movement within 24 hours post-surgery with the aid of artificial intelligence.
One of the primary challenges associated with BSI technology is the limited capacity for implanting electrodes in the human body, as well as the need to decode human movement intentions in real time.
"If a patient wants to lift their leg, but the algorithm fails to decode the intention or delays by even a few seconds, the patient could fall," Jia said. After nearly three years of persistent research, the team achieved a significant breakthrough in algorithm development, allowing for real-time interpretation of brain movement signals.
From January to February this year, the team successfully completed three clinical proof-of-concept surgeries. Patients with severe spinal cord injuries regained the ability to control their legs and walk within a two-week timeframe.
"The treatment outcomes for these paralyzed patients met or even exceeded our expectations, preliminarily demonstrating the feasibility of the next-generation brain-spine interface solution. The completion of four surgeries across two hospitals also proves that this technology is replicable and scalable. This is not just a technological victory but the beginning of a new life for paralyzed patients," said Jia.
The research team plans to continue refining and enhancing the technology, with the goal of restoring walking abilities for more individuals with spinal injuries and offering hope to millions of patients and their families around the globe.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
