Wuhu accelerates clinical application of brain-computer interface technology
By wuhunews.cn
The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical University (Beijing Tiantan Hospital Anhui Hospital) recently completed two implant surgeries using the Beinao-1 wireless brain-computer interface (BCI), filling the gap in clinical application of implantable high-throughput BCI technology in Anhui Province. For patients, this means new hope for neurological and limb dysfunctions once considered difficult to reverse.
The two patients who underwent the surgeries both suffered from high-level paralysis and severely limited upper limb function. Their fine grasping ability was almost completely lost, making daily activities difficult to manage independently. After the surgeries, they have been recovering well and are gradually entering the stages of signal acquisition, motor-intention decoding and rehabilitation training. They are expected to regain basic daily functions such as grasping and holding objects.
The Beinao-1 system is a new-generation implantable BCI system independently developed in China. It integrates core technologies across the full chain, including flexible high-density electrodes, miniature in-vivo implant devices and deep learning decoding algorithms.
The system adopts a semi-invasive epidural implantation approach that eliminates the need to open the dura mater or directly contact brain tissue. Only a small bone window in the skull is needed for electrode placement, achieving an internationally recognized optimal balance between safety and signal precision. The system can be widely applied in areas such as limb function reconstruction, neuromodulation for neurological disorders and intelligent human-computer interaction, filling the gap in clinical trials and industrialization of high-end BCI equipment in Anhui.
The success of these two surgeries represents more than a major technological advance. As a priority area of future industry, Wuhu is leveraging its two national regional medical centers — Beijing Tiantan Hospital Anhui Hospital and Beijing Anding Hospital Wuhu Hospital — to accelerate the transition of BCI technology from the laboratory to clinical practice. In January 2026, the first implantable BCI surgery in Anhui was performed in Wuhu, providing further evidence for restoring motor function in patients with hemiplegia. Meanwhile, Wuhu has jointly established the Institute of Brain Science with Wannan Medical University, equipped with multiple specialized laboratories and collaborating with national-level research platforms. This has laid the initial foundation for a complete innovation chain covering basic research, technology transfer and clinical validation.
The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical University (Beijing Tiantan Hospital Anhui Hospital) has established a multi-technology roadmap covering invasive, semi-invasive and noninvasive BCI technologies as well as closed-loop neuromodulation to address motor dysfunction caused by major diseases such as post-stroke hemiplegia, spinal cord injury and Parkinson's disease. It will continue to deepen its work in brain science and BCI, strengthen the clinical application and research of BCI technology, and enhance industry-university-research collaboration, advancing BCI technology from the laboratory to the bedside and supporting Wuhu in building a BCI industry innovation cluster.
Notably, the Action Plan for Accelerating Brain-Computer Interface Technology and Industry Development (2026-2030), issued by the Anhui Provincial Government this year, outlines a regional development layout of "One Core, Two Wings" encompassing Hefei, Wuhu and Bengbu. By 2028, Anhui aims to rank among the top tier nationwide in BCI technology and industry development, with key technologies such as electrodes, chips and algorithms remaining at the forefront nationwide. The action plan proposes to support Wuhu in establishing the Institute of Brain Science of Wannan Medical University by relying on the two national regional medical centers, connecting top-tier domestic medical resources, and integrating clinical research, application verification and achievement transformation. It also specifies that the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical University (Yijishan Hospital) will conduct clinical research and trials on BCI products, focusing on two major areas: closed-loop neuromodulation and motor function recovery. This provincial-level top-level design provides clear policy guidance and strong support for Wuhu to accelerate the clinical application and industrial clustering of BCI technology.