14 April 2026 : Review article
Review of Recent Advances in Implantable Brain-Computer Interfaces for the Restoration of Motor Function in Patients With Paralysis
Daokai Yang AEF 1,2, Xiaogang Liu AEF 2, Junhang Hu AEF 1,2, Wei Zhang AEFG 1,2*DOI: 10.12659/MSM.951925
Med Sci Monit 2026; 32:e951925
Introduction
Fundamental Mechanisms: Principles of Neural Signal Acquisition for BCIs
Neural Decoding and Pattern Recognition
Applications and Recent Progress
Comparison of Invasive and Noninvasive Modalities
Key Technological Innovations
Clinical Translation
Patient Outcome Assessment
Current Limitations and Paths Forward
Discussion and Outlook
Clinical Translation and Current Trial Landscape
Artificial Intelligence Models for Neural Decoding
Future Directions
Conclusions
References
Table 1 Summary of recent clinical trials of implantable brain–computer interfaces.
| Trial ID (reference) | Study focus | Device/technology | Population | Primary objective | Preliminary findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT06429735 []105 | Precision robot–assisted implantable BCI | PRIME system | Individuals with tetraplegia | Evaluate safety and effectiveness | Early data indicate volitional control of external devices with associated improvements in quality of life |
| NCT06990412 []106 | Fully implantable wireless BCI | NEO system | Individuals with tetraplegia | Evaluate system safety and effectiveness | Participants demonstrated positive performance in device control tasks |
| NCT02550522 []100 | BCI neuroprosthesis | Neuroprosthetic system | Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) | Assess feasibility of motor restoration | Some participants exhibited improvements in motor function following training |
| NCT01997125 []107 | BCI-assisted system with stimulation | Electrical stimulation platform | Patients with SCI | Evaluate restoration of motor function and tactile sensation | Improvements noted in strength and control of the arm/hand |
| NCT04724824 []99 | ReHand–BCI clinical trial | ReHand–BCI system | Patients post-stroke | Assess upper-limb recovery and neuroplasticity | The intervention group outperformed controls on functional recovery and neuroimaging indices |
| BCI – brain-computer interface; SCI – spinal cord injury. | |||||