China approved the world's first invasive BCI—so why isn't it Neuralink?
china's national medical products administration approved neuracle's neo brain implant for spinal cord injury patients, beating neuralink to market as the first invasive bci clearance.
china approved the neo device, developed by neuracle technology and tsinghua university, for patients with quadriplegia due to spinal cord injuries, marking the first regulatory green light for an invasive bci globally. the system uses sensors placed on the brain's outer membrane to interpret signals and drive external robotics, offering a safer profile than neuralink's penetrating threads by reducing hemorrhage risk. this milestone highlights china's accelerated regulatory pathway for neurotech, granting it a first-mover advantage in the commercial bci market ahead of us competitors.