China has developed the world's best electrodes for brain implants—they do not damage the brain, unlike Neuralink.

Chinese scientists from the Beijing Institute of Brain Research have developed a new type of stretchable flexible microelectrodes designed for surgically implanted brain‑computer interfaces (BCIs).

What Changed
- Problem with old technology

Traditional flexible electrodes often shift or are pulled out of the brain during its natural movements. This leads to signal loss and tissue damage.

- New approach

The new electrodes have a spiral structure that allows them to “smoothly” bend and twist in response to brain pulsations. They are held on the brain surface with spring‑based fixation, yet they can easily move together with the tissue.

Technical Details
Indicator Linear Electrodes (Neuralink) New Spiral Electrodes
Stretching Force 4 mN 47 µN
Effect of Brain Movement Risk of injury and inflammation Easy shift then return to place

The difference in stretching force is more than two orders of magnitude. This means that during normal head movements, linear electrodes can tear out of the tissue, whereas spiral ones “glide” with the neurons and remain securely attached.

Experiments
- Example in primates

A surgically implanted 1024‑channel implant with the new electrodes worked safely over an extended period.

- Comparison with Neuralink

After initial clinical trials, Neuralink’s linear electrodes left their position within a few hours in 85 % of patients, being pulled out of the brain during head movement.

What This Means for Medicine
The new stretchable spiral electrodes pave the way for safer and more durable surgically implanted neural interfaces. They can be used clinically to assist people with paralysis, strokes, and other neurological disorders.

In China, development of such technologies is part of the 15th Five‑Year Plan, underscoring their strategic importance for the future of medicine.