Archive · 18 Jul 2026
China Implants First Commercial Brain Chip
China has successfully implanted a new brain chip called NEO in a patient with a spinal cord injury.
This chip helps the patient move their hand using a robotic glove controlled by brain signals.
The NEO chip is different from Elon Musk's Neuralink because it uses a less invasive method and doesn't require robotic surgery.
China is the first country to approve this type of brain chip for regular use.
Another company in China, NeuCyber, is also working on a similar chip called Beinao-2, which is still being tested on animals.
The NEO chip is a big step in helping people with injuries communicate and move better.
China has implanted the first commercially approved brain-computer interface (BCI) chip, NEO, in a patient with a spinal cord injury.
The NEO chip uses a minimally invasive technique and wireless technology to control a robotic glove for hand movement.
China is the first country to approve an invasive BCI medical device for commercial use.
NeuCyber's Beinao-2 system, another invasive BCI, is undergoing large-scale animal trials and is about three years behind Neuralink's progress.
The NEO chip is intended for patients aged 18-60 with specific spinal cord injuries that occurred at least one year ago.
- Who
- Neuracle, a Shanghai-based private firm
- What
- Implantation of the NEO brain-computer interface (BCI) chip
- When
- Recently completed, with approval earlier this year
- Where
- China
- Why
- To restore hand movement in patients with spinal cord injuries
- Chip Name
- NEO
- Company
- Neuracle
- Location
- Shanghai, China
- Approval Status
- Commercially approved in China
- Target Patients
- Aged 18-60 with specific spinal cord injuries
- Technology
- Wireless, minimally invasive extradural implantation
- Comparison
- Neuralink's N1 chip uses robotic surgery for implantation