Tangdu Hospital Performs Western China's First 128-Channel Brain-Computer Interface Implantation Surgery

Background

Spinal cord injuries, particularly those involving the cervical region, can result in quadriplegia by interrupting the transmission of motor signals from the brain to the limbs, even when brain activity and peripheral nerves remain functional. Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology seeks to address this by directly detecting brain signals associated with movement intent and translating them into commands for external devices, effectively creating a bypass around the damaged neural pathways.

In China, the domestically developed BeiNao-1 intelligent BCI system has advanced into clinical applications following procedures at hospitals in Beijing. On or around June 30, 2026, the neurosurgery team at Tangdu Hospital carried out western China's first implantation of this 128-channel system. The procedure, performed on a 39-year-old male patient who had suffered traumatic cervical spinal cord transection leading to quadriplegia, was reported by the hospital on July 6, 2026. This marked a reported breakthrough in the clinical translation of high-channel implantable BCI technology in the western region of the country.

What was achieved

The neurosurgery team led by Director Qu Yan successfully implanted the BeiNao-1 flexible cortical electrode. Preoperative preparation involved multidisciplinary evaluation, quantitative neurological function assessment, high-precision multimodal imaging fusion reconstruction, and personalized surgical path planning. During the operation, under the dual guidance of neuronavigation and electrophysiological monitoring, the flexible electrode was placed in the epidural space beneath the skull without penetrating the dura mater.

By July 15, 2026, the system was activated for training. According to follow-up reporting, the patient was able to use mind control to direct a pneumatic glove, enabling his fingers to perform grasping and extending movements. The hospital described the implantation as establishing a wireless bridge between brain signals and external devices. The neurosurgery department, noted as the base for the All-Army Institute of Neurosurgery and a national key clinical specialty, had accumulated experience in functional brain disorders, neuromodulation, and BCI research prior to this case. The procedure was identified as the first 128-channel implantable flexible intracranial cortical BCI surgery in western China.

How it works

In individuals with an intact nervous system, the brain generates electrical signals in the motor cortex when a person intends to move. These signals travel down the spinal cord to activate muscles. Following a severe cervical spinal cord injury, the pathway is disrupted even though the brain can still produce the signals and the limbs' peripheral nerves may respond if stimulated directly.

The BeiNao-1 system uses a thin, flexible electrode array with 128 channels positioned in the epidural space directly over the relevant area of the motor cortex. This placement allows for high-fidelity capture of brain signals with improved signal-to-noise ratio compared to non-invasive scalp electrodes, as explained by team assistant researcher Zhang Ruili. The implanted device processes these signals, transmits them wirelessly to external equipment, and algorithms decode the intended movements with low latency. The decoded commands then activate assistive devices, such as a pneumatic glove that moves the patient's own fingers. The semi-invasive design avoids direct contact with brain tissue by not penetrating the dura mater. The system supports synchronous signal acquisition and has been associated with capabilities for motor intent decoding in related national reports.

What it means for international patients

The successful performance of this procedure at Tangdu Hospital indicates expanding clinical experience with high-channel implantable BCI systems beyond major eastern centers in China. For patients with chronic spinal cord injury, such developments may eventually broaden options for advanced neural interface technologies in different regions of the country.

Specific information regarding dedicated international patient departments, language support, or streamlined services for overseas visitors in relation to BCI procedures was not reported in coverage of this event. As this represents an early clinical application of the technology, international patients interested in similar interventions should directly contact the hospital to confirm current availability, eligibility criteria, regulatory status, and any applicable protocols. Suitability for any individual case requires thorough medical evaluation by the treating team.

About the hospital

Tangdu Hospital, officially the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Air Force Medical University, is a large comprehensive tertiary hospital located in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. It serves as a teaching hospital affiliated with the military medical university, formerly known in connection with the Fourth Military Medical University.

Its Department of Neurosurgery is recognized as a national key clinical specialty and acts as the supporting unit for the All-Army Neurosurgery Research Institute. The department has engaged in innovative research and clinical work in functional brain diseases, neuromodulation, neural repair, and brain-computer interface technologies. The hospital conducts multidisciplinary collaborations and has been involved in high-precision neurosurgical procedures utilizing navigation and monitoring systems.