China approves NEO brain-computer interface for commercial use
China approved NEO, a brain-computer interface implant developed by Neuracle Technology and Tsinghua University, for commercial use in patients with spinal cord injuries. The less-invasive implant uses sensors on the brain's protective membrane rather than penetrating tissue directly, and security experts have noted potential vulnerability to hacking of neural data.
What happened
China's National Medical Products Administration approved NEO, a brain-computer interface implant, for commercial use in March 2026, making it the world's first commercially cleared invasive brain-computer interface.
NEO was developed by Neuracle Technology in partnership with Tsinghua University and uses eight sensors positioned on the dura mater, the protective membrane covering the brain, to collect neural signals and transmit them to a computer that converts signals into commands for a robotic device.
The device is approved for patients aged 18 to 60 with paralysis in all four limbs caused by spinal cord injuries who retain some arm function.
Reported impact
The approval represents a competitive development in the brain-computer interface industry, with China moving ahead of Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain-implant company.
Cybersecurity experts have flagged potential risks: the technology could theoretically allow hackers to access sensitive neural data such as patients' thoughts and memories.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.