Imagine having a real-time GPS for your brain that guides surgeons straight to hidden tumors. A team on the Chinese mainland has turned this vision into reality with NeuroDepth, a brain-computer interface (BCI) device that precisely locates deep-seated gliomas.
In the world's first clinical trial of its kind, researchers at the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University implanted microelectrode arrays in a glioma patient. The patient, who had been struggling with speech difficulties due to tumor compression, showed remarkable language improvement after surgery guided by NeuroDepth.
Unlike conventional electrodes that only capture surface signals, NeuroDepth probes neural activity from the cortex to deep brain structures and even monitors neurotransmitter levels. "It has broken through the limitation of traditional neural electrodes, which could only detect signals from cortical-based tumors," said Wang Mixia, an associate researcher at the Aerospace Information Research Institute. "Our electrodes can capture neural signals across the entire brain, offering more precise information for surgery."
By providing real-time tumor boundary maps, NeuroDepth helps surgeons remove tumors more accurately while sparing healthy tissue. Researchers believe this breakthrough could revolutionize treatment for gliomas and brain metastases, where fuzzy margins often hinder complete resection.
Looking ahead, the team plans to expand NeuroDepth's applications to restore vision and hearing through non-invasive BCIs and to develop endovascular interfaces that support motor recovery in paralyzed patients. With this milestone, the future of precision neurosurgery and BCI therapies has never looked clearer.
Reference(s):
China's brain chip tech achieves tumor localization breakthrough
cgtn.com
