The paralysis due to spinal cord injuries was considered an irreversible situation for many years. Even the advanced brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink, did not see that the paralyzed limbs would become reusable. However, a clinical experiment in China has radically changed this perception.
Groundbreaking surgery: movement came in hours
Scientists from Fudan University in Shanghai allowed the four paralyzed patients to move their legs again within a few hours. Within the scope of the method applied, electrode chips were placed in the brains and spinal cords of the patients. Thanks to this process, the nerve transmission paths lost due to spinal cord injuries were re -activated.
The results were astonished. Within 24 hours after surgery, patients began to move their legs. In just a few weeks, they became able to walk independently. Some patients even reported that their lost nerve senses came back.
How does the brain-understanding interface overcome paralysis?
Unlike traditional BCI systems, the brain-connois interface developed by Chinese researchers works without dependent on an external computer. This system directly stimulates nerve cells in a method called “neural reshaping .. In this way, the nervous system can reconstruct itself and patients are likely to be dependent on life -supporting devices.
Professor Jia Fumin of Fudan Brain -like Intelligence Research Institute, who manages the study, stressed the importance of their success:
“Previously, the most advanced technology in the medical field has always come from abroad. However, we have opened the doors of a new era.
Small electrodes, big results
This method is applied by placing only two small electrodes of 1 mm diameter in the engine cortex area of the brain. Brain-conception chips collect and solve nerve signals and provide direct communication between the brain and paralyzed muscles by sending precise electrical stimuli to the nerve roots.
The first patient in the clinical experiment was a 34 -year -old man and a man who remained paraplegic as a result of a fall. The surgery was performed on 8 January. He was able to lift both legs in just 24 hours. Within 14 days, he made a great progress by walking over the obstacles and walking 5 meters with support. Three more patients were operated in February and March, and all of them showed a significant improvement within a few weeks.
Much faster results compared to Switzerland
Similar results were obtained in the previous researches in Switzerland on neural reshaping. However, this process required a long time like six months. The new method developed in China has reduced the recovery time to only two weeks and offered a more efficient and minimal surgical damage.
In the follow -up examination at the end of February, he explained how his first patient experience changed:
“My feet feel warm and sweaty, there’s an tingry. When I stand, I feel my leg muscles contract.”
It was also reported that the patient started to feel the need to go to the toilet. This indicates that nerve connections are re -established at a deeper level.
A great technological breakthrough from China
All medical devices used in these operations were developed in China. This reveals the level of development in the field of neurotechnology. In China, there are currently 3,74 million spinal cord injuries and 90,000 new cases are added each year. The spread of this new technology can change the lives of millions of people.
Professor Jia from the team conducting the study says that this method can be moved further in the future:
“If a spinal cord interface implanted and supports it with 3 to 5 years of rehabilitation training, we can ensure that the nerves are reconnected and fully reshaped. Thus, we can save patients from device addiction.”
This development, which creates excitement in the world of science, may be the beginning of a new era in the treatment of paralysis.
