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Medical Frontiers

Medical Frontiers

Breakthroughs, new diagnostics and complex procedures reported by Chinese hospitals.

All storiesInternational patient stories (11) Oncology (35) Neurology & neurosurgery (26) Cardiology & heart surgery (14) Rare & hard-to-treat diseases (48) Orthopedics & sports medicine (3) Endocrine (1) Infectious disease (1) ENT & hearing (1) Organ failure & transplant (6) Rheumatology & immunology (1) Eye (2)

26 stories

World's First Minimally Invasive Epidural Brain-Computer Interface Patient Shows Good Recovery 3 Years After Implantation

Neurology & neurosurgery

World's First Minimally Invasive Epidural Brain-Computer Interface Patient Shows Good Recovery 3 Years After Implantation

Three years after receiving the world's first minimally invasive epidural brain-computer interface implantation for spinal cord injury sustained in 2009, the patient achieved active right-hand grasping and independent drinking, with marked improvements in motor and sensory functions. This confirms the technology's long-term safety and efficacy.

Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University

Zhujiang Hospital Completes South China's First Routine Implantable Brain-Computer Interface Surgery

Neurology & neurosurgery

Zhujiang Hospital Completes South China's First Routine Implantable Brain-Computer Interface Surgery

The functional neurosurgery team performed South China's first routine clinical implantation of a National Medical Products Administration-approved invasive brain-computer interface in a patient with high cervical spinal cord injury. This marks the technology entering the stage of routine clinical practice.

Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University

Russian Paraplegic Girl Walks After Closed-Loop Spinal Cord Neural Interface Surgery at Zhejiang University Second Affiliated HospitalVideo

Neurology & neurosurgery

Russian Paraplegic Girl Walks After Closed-Loop Spinal Cord Neural Interface Surgery at Zhejiang University Second Affiliated Hospital

The 12-year-old Russian girl Vera, who became paraplegic after a car accident, received closed-loop spinal cord neural interface implantation at the hospital and achieved standing and stepping with assistive devices through rehabilitation. The hospital has performed this technique on over 20 spinal cord injury patients.

The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine

First Patient in Jiangsu's First Brain-Computer Interface Clinical Ward Reaches One-Year Follow-Up

Neurology & neurosurgery

First Patient in Jiangsu's First Brain-Computer Interface Clinical Ward Reaches One-Year Follow-Up

Follow-up of the hospital's first semi-invasive brain-computer interface surgery patient from 2025 showed significant right-hand function improvement. The patient can now independently hold a cup to drink and practice eating with a spoon, achieving brain function remodeling.

Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University

Shandong Completes First Invasive Brain-Computer Interface Surgery, High Paraplegia Patient Expected to 'Control Objects with Mind'

Neurology & neurosurgery

Shandong Completes First Invasive Brain-Computer Interface Surgery, High Paraplegia Patient Expected to 'Control Objects with Mind'

Shandong Qianfoshan Hospital successfully performed Shandong Province's first invasive wireless BCI system implantation surgery; ultra-flexible microelectrodes were placed in the motor cortex of a high-paraplegia patient, with 256 channels accurately collecting signals post-surgery, enabling potential mind control of external devices. Implemented in the hospital's dedicated BCI clinical research ward, the project recruits nationwide patients with fees waived.

The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Qianfoshan Hospital)

World's First Prescription! Brain-Computer Interface Enters Clinical Application at Huashan Hospital

Neurology & neurosurgery

World's First Prescription! Brain-Computer Interface Enters Clinical Application at Huashan Hospital

The hospital issued the world's first prescription and performed the first implantation of an approved implantable brain-computer interface. The system acquires epidural EEG signals to aid hand grasp recovery in spinal cord injury patients, advancing cutting-edge technology into real-world clinical care.

Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University

Robot-Assisted Cerebral Angiography Successfully Conducted in Beijing

Neurology & neurosurgery

Robot-Assisted Cerebral Angiography Successfully Conducted in Beijing

The Department of Neurosurgery at the First Medical Center utilized the PANVIS-A® cerebrovascular intervention robot to complete Beijing's first cerebral angiography for a left internal carotid artery ophthalmic segment aneurysm, opening a new chapter in precise cerebrovascular disease management.

People's Liberation Army General Hospital

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

Neurology & neurosurgery

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

The neurosurgery team successfully implanted a domestic BeiNao-1 flexible cortical electrode in a quadriplegic patient with cervical spinal cord injury, establishing a wireless bridge between brain signals and external devices. This marks a substantial breakthrough in the clinical application of brain-computer interfaces in western China.

The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University (Tangdu Hospital)

South China's First 'NorthBrain-1' Intelligent Brain-Computer System Implantation Successfully PerformedVideo

Neurology & neurosurgery

South China's First 'NorthBrain-1' Intelligent Brain-Computer System Implantation Successfully Performed

The neurosurgery team led by Long Hao completed South China's first implantation of the 'NorthBrain-1' flexible intracranial cortical brain-computer interface in a patient with high paraplegia from spinal cord injury, reconstructing brain-to-limb control. This domestic high-throughput wireless system bridges research to clinical application.

Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University

World's First "NorthBrain 1" Brain-Computer Interface Combined with Spinal Cord Electrical Stimulation for Paraplegia Marks 1-Year Milestone with Transition from Complete Paraplegia to ASIA C

Neurology & neurosurgery

World's First "NorthBrain 1" Brain-Computer Interface Combined with Spinal Cord Electrical Stimulation for Paraplegia Marks 1-Year Milestone with Transition from Complete Paraplegia to ASIA C

One year after surgery, a patient with advanced spinal cord injury improved neurologically from ASIA A to C grade, regaining the ability to walk and perform basic self-care. This rewrites the traditional medical doctrine that functional recovery is irreversible in late-stage complete spinal cord injury.

Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University

Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Brain-Computer Interface Demonstration Ward Officially Unveiled

Neurology & neurosurgery

Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Brain-Computer Interface Demonstration Ward Officially Unveiled

The southern campus unveiled the nation's first standardized demonstration ward integrating multiple brain-computer interface devices. It will explore applications such as thought-controlled exoskeleton rehabilitation, aiming to become a national translational demonstration base.

Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital

Jiangxi's First Fully Implanted Wireless Brain-Computer Interface Clinical Surgery Successfully PerformedVideo

Neurology & neurosurgery

Jiangxi's First Fully Implanted Wireless Brain-Computer Interface Clinical Surgery Successfully Performed

The hospital completed Jiangxi Province's first fully implanted wireless brain-computer interface surgery. Using the technology, a high paraplegia patient can now eat, write, and draw independently through thought control.

The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University

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