Technology helps improve lives of people with disabilities

A patient grips a bottle of water in Beijing, Nov 14, 2023, after receiving a surgery which implanted a wireless processor into his skull. A Chinese clinical team has implanted a wireless processor into the skull of a paralyzed man, significantly recovering his motor skills, including drinking a bottle of water on his own. [Photo/Tsinghua University/Handout via Xinhua]

Brain-computer interface

Brain-computer interface technology collects electroencephalogram data from the cerebral cortex through signal acquisition equipment, and then converts them into signals that can be recognized by computers after processing such as amplification, filtering, and A/D conversion. Then, these signals are preprocessed and feature signals are extracted for pattern recognition, and finally converted into specific instructions for controlling external devices to achieve control of external devices.

This technology therapy is still relatively new. In October, Xuanwu Hospital and Tsinghua University School of Medicine successfully completed the first implantation of wireless minimally invasive implantable BCI clinical trial. This advancement enabled a quadriplegic patient to use brain electrical activity to autonomously control pneumatic gloves in order to drink water.

Several national and local policies have been implemented in support of brain-computer interface technology. It is anticipated that this technology will be widely utilized in medical rehabilitation in the future, assisting patients and disabled individuals with tasks such as computer usage, controlling household appliances switches, limb control, aiding in rehabilitation training, etc., and ultimately enhancing their quality of life.