{
  "id": 17356911,
  "title": "China joins global race to reawaken brain-injury patients through ultrasound therapy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/china-joins-global-race-to-reawaken-brain-injury-patients-through",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-31T07:00:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SCMP Tech",
    "slug": "scmp-tech",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3372779/china-joins-global-race-reawaken-brain-injury-patients-through-ultrasound-therapy"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "China has joined the global effort to aid brain-injury patients through a novel therapy utilizing ultrasound waves, according to state media. A patient who had spent three months in a coma following a brain haemorrhage regained the ability to speak, eat and walk with assistance, showcasing the potential of this early-stage clinical trial.\n\nDeveloped by a collaboration including the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, the technology employs focused ultrasound waves to stimulate brain regions without invasive surgery or implanted electrodes. The technique, presented at a brain-computer interface (BCI) conference in Shenzhen, focuses on the thalamus, a key area for awareness and communication between neural networks.\n\nIn a preliminary study, 13 out of 24 patients with chronic disorders of consciousness showed improvements in conscious behavior after receiving three 20-minute ultrasound therapy sessions per week over four weeks, as reported by CCTV. One patient, who had been in a coma for three months after a brain bleed, began having conversations, feeding himself, and walking with support after 30 days of therapy and rehabilitation. However, the report did not specify whether a control group was included in the trial, which could impact the conclusions that can be drawn.\n\nThis ultrasound-based rehabilitation method has garnered attention for its ability to reach deep brain structures without the risks associated with surgery or implanted electrodes. Similar research is underway internationally, with a multicentre clinical trial in the United States recruiting 60 patients with severe brain injuries. The trial includes a sham-stimulation group to confirm whether the observed improvements are directly due to the medical intervention. Commercial interest in ultrasound-based brain interfaces is also increasing, with Merge Labs partnering with Butterfly Network to develop the technology using molecular technologies and ultrasound.",
  "summary": "After spending three months in a coma following a brain haemorrhage, a patient in China has regained the ability to speak, eat and walk with support – part of an early clinical trial using targeted sound waves to help “wake up” severely damaged brains, according to state media. The technology, developed by a coalition including the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced…",
  "key_points": [
    "China joins global effort using ultrasound therapy for brain-injury patients.",
    "Patient in coma for three months regains speech, eating, and walking abilities.",
    "Study shows 13 out of 24 patients improved with three weekly ultrasound sessions."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Non-invasive ultrasound stimulation offers a safer alternative to surgical implants for treating chronic consciousness disorders, signaling a shift toward accessible technology for rehabilitating deep brain structures.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}