A team from Columbia, Stanford, Pennsylvania universities and New York-Presbyterian Hospital announced a significant scientific breakthrough in brain interfaces, after successfully developing an integrated brain system called the "Biocortical Interface Platform" (BISC).
This system represents a practical leap in brain-computer communication technologies, combining extreme miniaturization with superior data transmission performance.
The new technology relies on an ultra-thin electronic chip that is no more than 50 micrometers thick, meaning it is twice as thin as a normal human hair, and can be placed directly on the surface of the brain with limited surgical intervention.
This tiny chip contains a complex network of 65,536 electrical contact points, capable of recording neural signals with unprecedented accuracy and transmitting them wirelessly at speeds of up to 100 megabits per second.
What distinguishes this system is its integrated design that combines all electronic components into a single chip, thus overcoming the problems of traditional devices that require huge boxes and complex wiring.
This clever design not only reduces the size, but also improves work efficiency and reduces potential surgical risks.
On the medical front, the system opens new horizons for treating a wide range of neurological conditions. In addition to its anticipated contribution to managing drug-resistant epilepsy, the device promises to restore motor and speech functions in patients suffering from paralysis or strokes, and may also help improve visual function in some patients.
These possibilities began to materialize with funding the researchers received from the US National Institutes of Health, earmarked for testing the system in epilepsy treatment. In a further practical step, the team founded the startup company Campto Neurotech to develop a commercial version of the technology, paving the way for its use in medical clinics.
In the long term, this innovation extends beyond the medical field to touch upon deeper questions about the future of human-technology interaction. The system's ability to establish a two-way communication channel between the brain and external devices lays the foundation for new possibilities in education, work, and even entertainment, where direct communication between human thoughts and intelligent systems may become a reality.
