Tianjin (MidLand) – A stroke patient using a brain electrode cap (brain electrode cap) attempted to lift the bottle from the table using his fingers and an additional “sixth finger” device attached to his wrist.
“Try again, focus your attention and see if you can lift the bottle,” a neurologist said excitedly.
In each trial, once, twice, three times, the patient who could not hold the pen watched the bottle slowly rise from the table.
The expression on his face changed from initially desperate to utter amazement, with the emotion reaching its peak as tears welled up in his eyes.
Wang Zhuang, a third-year doctoral student with members of the neuroengineering team at Tianjin University, carefully observed the patient and the “sixth finger” device on his hand, carefully noting any fluctuations in the data.
The team created an innovative device that can be worn on a finger, using brain-computer interface technology (brain-computer interface/BCI) is non-invasive to use a patient’s brain waves, allowing stroke patients to mentally “control” the additional numbers.
Apart from this, this tool also works to revitalize the patient’s compromised central and peripheral nervous system, thus facilitating the rehabilitation of hand motor function.
BCI, a technology that heralds the future, is rapidly emerging as a focal point for global investments. Scientists and engineers are eager to integrate this pioneering technology into the field of medical practice, embracing a new era in therapeutic possibilities.
“Stroke poses a significant threat to the health of our country’s population and often causes varying degrees of physical disability in patients,” Wang said.
“Our aspiration is to harness the power of technology to give them better opportunities for a fuller and more fulfilling life,” he said.
In January, a clinical team at Xuanwu Hospital in China implanted a wireless processor into the skull of a paralyzed man, and this significantly helped restore his motor skills, including drinking a bottle of water independently.
China has launched guidelines to support technological innovation, industrial development and future industrial security governance, including the BCI sector.
According to the report of the Chinese Academy of Information and Communication Technology on the Development and Application of BCI (2023), medical care is the main application area of BCI technology in China.
According to the report, around 200 medical BCI companies operate in China, a quarter of which are pioneers in the field of implant technology, while the rest are dedicated to the development of non-implant technologies.
Mei Jie, a colleague of Wang’s, discovered further potential in the BCI system. After six months of dedicated efforts, he managed to design a drone that could be controlled by brain signals.
“We achieved, for the first time, continuous control of a drone using the brain in four degrees of freedom,” Mei said.
“This technology has broad potential for applications in a variety of fields, including remote target identification, comprehensive environmental surveillance and anomaly monitoring.”
In an effort to evaluate and refine the operational capabilities of “brain-controlled drones”, Mei dedicated his efforts for three whole months to conduct various experiments in outdoor research facilities.
“Scientific research reflects the process of growing plants that requires patience and perseverance because the results of one’s hard work cannot be harvested immediately, but ripen over a long period of time to grow and bear fruit,” Mei said.
Journalist: Xinhua
Editor: Junaydi Suswanto
Copyright © MidLand 2024
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