StairMed (company brief)
Official site → Shanghai, China
StairMed is a Shanghai-based medical technology company reported to be running invasive BMI/BCI trials with ultra-flexible electrodes connected to a coin-sized implant embedded in the skull.
Reported first-in-man trial (Shanghai / Huashan Hospital)
Shanghai’s English-language government news portal (citing chinadaily.com.cn) reports:
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implant at Huashan Hospital (Fudan University) on March 25, 2025
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two ultra-flexible electrodes (“~one-hundredth the thickness of human hair”)
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coin-sized implant embedded in the skull, wireless transmission of signals
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after training, the participant could control games (chess, racing)
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article frames this as China’s first invasive BMI first-in-man clinical trial
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Shanghai.gov.cn page: https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20250513/f335be254e5c4dd5b00f3a26a04ab3cc.html
Secondary reporting with additional details:
- YicaiGlobal (May 13, 2025): https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/participant-can-play-games-with-brain-signals-in-chinas-first-bci-prospective-clinical-trial
Policy/ecosystem context (state roadmap):
- NeuroFounders summary: https://www.neurofounders.co/articles/china-unveils-2030-brain-computer-interface-roadmap
Why it’s interesting
StairMed is part of a broader Chinese push to build an invasive BCI pipeline (hardware + clinical deployment). The immediate technical questions are:
- signal quality and stability
- safety and migration
- how much “bandwidth” is achievable with very small electrode counts
What to watch
- Peer-reviewed data / registry details
- Indication focus (assistive control vs rehab vs communication)
- Hardware evolution (channels, packaging, recharge, longevity)
Notes on sourcing
Draft. Current citations are mainly government/media reporting and should be strengthened with primary technical publications and trial registry entries.