Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 to 65

Implantable wireless brain–machine interface for spinal cord injury

Official title: A Prospective, Open-label, Multi-center, Single-arm Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of an Implantable Wireless Brain-machine Interface System in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury

Run by Shanghai StairMed Technology Co., Ltd. · NCT07603752 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study tests an implantable wireless brain–machine interface in adults with cervical spinal cord injury to see if it can safely and effectively enable brain-controlled movement.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
Enrollment34 (estimated)
SponsorShanghai StairMed Technology Co., Ltd.
Industry-sponsored
Locations1 site (Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality)
StatusRecruiting
StartedApril 28, 2026
Main results expectedJanuary 31, 2027
Study endsJune 30, 2027
Registry record updatedMay 22, 2026
Trial IDNCT07603752 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults aged 18–65 with complete or incomplete tetraplegia from cervical SCI (C2–C6), ISNCSCI Grade A–C, at least 12 months post-injury, and intact motor cortex function.

Probably not a fit

Patients with incompatible brain structure/function, other neurological conditions, or those outside the specified age range may not benefit.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, open-label, multi-center, single-arm study that implants a wireless brain–machine interface in eligible adults with cervical spinal cord injury. Participants will undergo screening, receive the BMI implant, and return for follow-up visits to monitor brain-control performance and safety. The study focuses on assessing efficacy and safety of the BMI system in real-world post-implant use. It is sponsored by Shanghai StairMed Technology with Huashan Hospital as a collaborator, and conducted at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University in Shanghai. A strict eligibility screen ensures participants have persistent cervical SCI (ISNCSCI grades A–C) for at least 12 months and intact motor cortex function, among other criteria.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, participants could gain improved ability to control devices or assistive technologies with brain signals.

How similar studies have gone: Previous similar BMI trials have shown varying safety and preliminary control signals, but this specific implantable wireless system represents an early, closely monitored approach.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged 18 to 65 years old (inclusive), with no restriction on gender.
2. Meeting all the following requirements:

(1) Suffering from complete or incomplete tetraplegia secondary to cervical spinal cord injury (C2-C6); (2) Diagnosed in line with the 2019 revised International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) issued by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), with neurological injury grade classified as Grade A to Grade C; (3) Having fulfilled the above diagnostic criteria for no less than 12 months; 3. Confirmed by imaging examinations and neurological evaluations that the motor-related cerebral cortex is structurally intact, functionally normal and free of obvious atrophy, organic lesions or functional disorders; 4. Fertile participants must agree to use effective contraception throughout the trial period; 5. Participants, either independently or with caregiver assistance, are willing to follow investigators' guidance, comply with all procedures stipulated in the study protocol and complete all scheduled trial visits as required; 6. Having normal cognitive function with a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥20 points (excluding three-step commands, writing and drawing items); 7. Elbow flexor muscle strength ≤ Grade 3 assessed by ISNCSCI scale; 8. Being of good compliance, voluntarily participating in the clinical trial and signing the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Having received implantation of any metallic objects or devices in the body (e.g., pacemaker, defibrillator, neurostimulator, cochlear implant, electronic devices, drug infusion pumps, etc.), excluding dental metallic implants or other implants confirmed to have no impact on the study.
2. Long-term use of anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs prior to screening, with antiplatelet drugs not discontinued for at least 2 weeks before surgery; or suffering from hematological diseases such as aplastic anemia and systemic lupus erythematosus; or having clinically significant abnormal coagulation function during the screening period.
3. Having contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or being unable to complete MRI examinations for other reasons.
4. Being assessed by anesthesiologists as intolerant to anesthetic surgery.
5. Having neurological diseases (e.g., cerebrovascular lesions, intracranial infection, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy) or a history of craniocerebral trauma leading to severe brain dysfunction or obvious abnormal electroencephalographic signals, as judged by investigators.
6. Suffering from physical or pathological conditions that may cause failed normal healing of scalp wounds.
7. Being in the stage of acute infection or suffering from other severe infections.
8. Having any unstable or severe medical conditions that may interfere with study procedures or confound the evaluation of study endpoints, including previously diagnosed mania, depression, Alzheimer's disease, mood disorders, intellectual disability, other cognitive disorders, severe attention deficit, etc.
9. Suffering from severe dysfunction of vital organs including heart, lung, liver and kidney: such as severe cardiovascular diseases (e.g., hospitalization or cardiac surgery due to myocardial infarction within 3 months, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, severe unstable arrhythmia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, severe aortic stenosis, aneurysm); severe pulmonary diseases (moderate to severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, etc.).
10. Diagnosed with malignant tumors, autoimmune diseases, peripheral neuropathy, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, or other severe diseases deemed unsuitable for this clinical trial by investigators.
11. Severe spasticity, severe neuralgia, or uncontrolled complex regional pain syndrome that hinders participants from completing training sessions.
12. Spinal cord dysfunction or injury caused by autoimmune disorders.
13. Having visual impairment that makes it difficult to view display screens for a long time even with standard corrective lenses.
14. Suffering from infectious diseases such as active pulmonary tuberculosis, viral hepatitis (hepatitis B, hepatitis C), syphilis and AIDS.
15. Receiving pharmacotherapy or physical therapy affecting the central nervous system before enrollment, and unable to discontinue such treatments after enrollment as assessed by investigators.
16. Having a history of drug abuse, nicotine dependence or alcohol dependence.
17. Pregnant or lactating females, or those planning to become pregnant during the study period.
18. Having participated or currently participating in any drug clinical trial within 90 days prior to enrollment, or any other medical device clinical trial within 30 days prior to enrollment.
19. Any other conditions deemed inappropriate for participation in this clinical trial by investigators.

Where it's running

  • Huashan Hospital, Fudan University
    Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.