Interventional robot-assisted experiments. (PHOTO: SCREENSHOT)

By QI Liming

China's first interventional brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, led by a research team from Nankai University   , has successfully completed animal trials in Beijing.This study obtained the ethical approval.

The BCI can be connected to a brain computer through a minimally invasive procedure similar to heart bypass, and the whole implanted procedure can be completed in two hours.

Core technologies, such as interventional electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes and intravascular EEG acquisition, have made significant breakthroughs. The development of stent, catheter and other neural interventional devices has been completed, which solved the drawbacks of irreversible damage to the brain caused by traditional invasive BCI.

Interventional BCI is a new type of BCI. The research team is inspired by the neural interventional technology for stroke treatment, implanting EEG sensors into brain regions, such as motor cortex and visual cortex through veins. Thus, when the neural stent dilates, the electrodes are squeezed on the blood vessel wall close to the brain, so as to obtain signals from the corresponding brain regions. The biggest advantage of this technique is that no cranial drilling or craniotomy is required to obtain EEG signals.

Interventional BCI experiments can improve the functional independence of patients with severe paralysis caused by brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve or muscle dysfunction, which is of great significance in the treatment of epilepsy, sleep disorders, Parkinson's disease and other diseases, enjoying broad application prospects in the future.