Chinese researchers have developed a brain-computer interface (BCI) technology that can restore visual perception for people with certain forms of irreversible blindness. The system has enabled a visually impaired man to recognise and write numbers, Chinese and English characters, grasp objects and navigate around obstacles, according to
China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS.
The procedure was performed in Hubei province. Doctors implanted a chip smaller than half a small fingernail into the sclera, the outer wall of the eyeball. The device does not penetrate the eye and operates without connecting wires or external magnetic attachments. Cameras in specially designed glasses capture images and convert them into electrical signals, which are transmitted wirelessly to the implant. The chip then stimulates nearby ocular nerves, sending signals to the brain’s visual cortex.
According to experts, the technology could potentially be used for seven types of blindness associated with nerve damage, including retinitis pigmentosa, advanced age-related macular degeneration, advanced glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. The researchers are continuing to improve the technology, particularly its ability to reproduce colour, depth perception and more detailed images.
The long-term goal is to help patients perform everyday activities more independently, including travelling, avoiding obstacles and recognising banknotes. Researchers expect advances in artificial intelligence and more precise mapping of connections between the eye and brain to further develop artificial vision.
The BRICS countries and their partners continue to invest in the development of technologies and initiatives in the field of healthcare, with the aim of broadening access to medical services and improving people’s quality of life.
Brazil has developed a technology that combines pneumatic compression and therapeutic laser treatment in a boot designed to stimulate muscle regeneration, relieve pain, reduce inflammation and speed up physical recovery. According to the
website of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the device can be used for recovery after training sessions and competitions, in patient rehabilitation and in the treatment of neurological and muscular conditions.
Psychiatrists from Ethiopia and other African nations gathered in Addis Ababa to discuss how artificial intelligence and digital psychiatry can expand access to high-quality mental health services. During the conference, industry representatives highlighted the potential of these technologies and the importance of developing solutions tailored to local needs whilst preserving African technological sovereignty, reported
ENA, a partner of TV BRICS.
In Nigeria, the country’s first telerobotic surgery was performed, according to
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a partner of TV BRICS. The procedure involved the removal of a kidney and was conducted remotely, in real time, by a surgeon, whilst the patient remained in another hospital. The initiative represents a breakthrough for Nigerian and West African medicine by expanding access to complex procedures without the need for patients to travel. The creation of an academy for robotic surgery was also announced, with the aim of training at least 150 surgeons, as well as other healthcare professionals and technical specialists.