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StairMed Technology claims 10-minute brain implant without skull surgery
Shanghai-based startup StairMed Technology claims it has developed a brain-computer interface (BCI) that can be implanted in as little as ten minutes without the need for open-skull surgery. Unlike Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which requires a surgical robot to place electrodes directly into brain tissue through the skull, StairMed’s device is threaded through a vein in the neck and travels via the vascular system to reach the brain.
Co-founder Zhao Zhengtuo presented the technology at the Global Health Summit in Hong Kong. While the ten-minute procedure is a target rather than a proven human result, physician Duan Wanru of Xuanwu Hospital suggested that an experienced surgeon could potentially complete the placement in that timeframe. The technology has been tested on sheep, but human clinical trials have not yet commenced.
StairMed has raised approximately 1.1 billion yuan ($163 million) over the last year, with investment from major firms including Tencent and Alibaba. The development comes as China seeks to expand its domestic BCI industry, with Beijing aiming for several domestic companies to compete globally by 2030. The company faces competition from US-based firms like Synchron, which already uses a similar vein-based approach.
Entities
Alibaba · Neuralink · StairMed Technology · Tencent · Zhao Zhengtuo
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The implant procedure does not require open-skull surgery. dailyguardian.ae · lanouvelletribune.info · www.digitaltrends.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The company raised more than 1.1 billion yuan (approximately $163 million) in the past year. dailyguardian.ae · lanouvelletribune.info · www.digitaltrends.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] StairMed Technology claims its brain implant can be placed in as little as ten minutes. dailyguardian.ae · lanouvelletribune.info · www.digitaltrends.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The vein-based approach has been tested on sheep but has not yet undergone human trials. dailyguardian.ae · lanouvelletribune.info · www.digitaltrends.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The device is inserted through a vein in the neck and travels through the vascular system to reach the brain. dailyguardian.ae · lanouvelletribune.info · www.digitaltrends.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Tencent and Alibaba are among the backers of StairMed Technology. dailyguardian.ae · lanouvelletribune.info · www.digitaltrends.com