Technology company, I will become the light of China!

After careful consideration and with the consent of his family, Jiang Ce also signed the surgery agreement, handing his life over to Ruijin Hospital, Longxing Group and WuXi Group.

Why is it said that it was handed over to Ruijin Hospital, Longxing Group and WuXi Group?

The reason is very simple. The brain-computer interface is provided with core technical data by Longxing Group, improved and manufactured by WuXi Group, and then implanted by Ruijin Hospital. If there is a problem in any of these three links, it may lead to Jiang Ce's death.

Night time.

Jiang Ce held the skin preparation knife and thought about life.

Anyone who has had surgery knows that if there is hair in the surgical area, it needs to be shaved clean, and the nurse will also give out a dermatome in advance.

You can choose to shave it yourself or have a nurse shave it.

When Jiang Ce was overwhelmed with emotions and thoughts, Chen Xing walked into the ward with the packaged wontons. He looked at Jiang Ce's dazed expression and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"No...nothing."

Jiang Ce heard the voice and came back to his senses.

Chen Xing put the wontons on the bedside table and reminded, "Director Qian said that you should eat a light diet before the operation, so I brought you some porridge and wontons. You can eat whatever you want."

"Thank you, President."

"Eat quickly."

"Ah."

Jiang Ce put down the unopened skin preparation knife, picked up the packed food on the bedside table, and ate absentmindedly.

When facing a surgery that may result in death, no amount of comforting words will be of any use because people have a natural fear of death.

Don’t be fooled by some people shouting “die, die, die” all day long, saying that death will bring them relief. In fact, they don’t really want to die, they are just too lonely. They just lack love and need a spiritual support.

“It’s delicious, and tastes like the company cafeteria.”

“I tried the flavor on purpose.”

"That's no wonder."

The two chatted intermittently. When they were almost done eating, Jiang Ce asked casually in a casual tone, "Can this brain-computer interface really cure my disease?"

"Don't worry."

Chen Xing smiled and responded clearly: "ALS is a neurological disease. Our conversation now, every movement, including blinking and breathing, is controlled by a specific neuron area, which is equivalent to the CPU of a computer. In other words, if there is a problem with your CPU, the brain-computer interface will implant a patch program for you so that your brain neurons can continue to work normally."

Red quality talents are rare treasures and the foundation of Longxing Group. Chen Xing will not act rashly.

The reason why Jiang Ce was chosen as the first implant subject was not only because it was difficult to recruit volunteers and the review process was too long, but also because of Gao Zhengqian's review of the core data.

This first-generation brain-computer interface does not actually have many functions, and its biggest feature is that it can read neuronal information.

Read neuronal information, generate specific computer language, and then intervene in neurological diseases by intervening in the central nervous system.

There is no systematic medical explanation for Jiang Ce's ALS, and even the cause of the disease has not been figured out. But one thing is certain, that is, there was no problem with the patient's physical functions in the early stages, and it was due to some reason that he gradually lost control of his body.

Losing control of the body, neurons happen to be the control center of the body. How to activate neurons and regain control of the body becomes a breakthrough in treatment.

Johns Hopkins University was the first to propose using implantable devices to stimulate neurons to treat ALS, but in recent years, they have not made good progress.

"I see."

When Jiang Ce heard the word "patch", he understood it instantly. As a worker in the computer field, he was very familiar with patches.

The system has vulnerabilities, patch them.

The system needs to be updated and patched.

It can be said that a computer system is like a house. If it is broken, it needs to be repaired. If you want to renovate it, you also need to repair it. The human body can also be likened to a house. Minor illnesses can be treated by injections and medication to repair the leaks. If you encounter a serious illness, you will have to undertake major projects.

Fearing that Jiang Ce would suffer from insomnia at night, Chen Xing comforted him, "I have seen the results of thousands of experiments conducted by WuXi Group. The safety level is already very high. Don't worry."

"Ah."

Jiang Ce nodded.

After he finished eating, Chen Xing picked up the unopened skin preparation knife and said with a smile: "Shall I shave for you?"

"Is this okay?"

Jiang Ce was stunned.

Chen Xing smiled calmly and said, "Of course."

……

And at the same time.

The seminar room of Ruijin Hospital.

Medical leaders such as Qian Qiuliang, Wu Shi, and Chen Guoqiang continue to hold meetings to discuss how to implant brain-computer interfaces in the safest and most reliable way.

Although implantation is not a difficult task as they have opened countless skulls, the difficulty of this operation lies in the unknown.

No one knows what condition the patient will be in after the brain-computer interface is implanted, so they need to discuss emergency rescue plans and increase the fault tolerance rate.

the other side.

WuXi Group headquarters.

Wang Youpeng, a chief in the biopharmaceutical field, is organizing relevant R&D personnel of brain-computer interfaces to take a bus to Shanghai.

Not only that, they also contacted Ruijin Hospital, hoping that the implantation of the brain-computer interface would be fully recorded.

The WuXi Group’s database already contains thousands of different videos of experimental monkeys, but there are no human experiments yet.

It is no exaggeration to say that this implant concerns human medicine.

Li Ge, CEO of WuXi Group, is also not idle. He has been thinking that if the brain-computer interface test is successful, he can reach a cooperation with Longxing Group to set up a company specializing in the research and development of brain-computer interfaces.

This night.

Many people suffer from insomnia.

Chen Xing, Jiang Ce, Li Ge and others are suffering from insomnia due to brain-computer interface implantation surgery. On the other side of the ocean, Renato Marotta, Clayton, Buffett and others are suffering from insomnia due to the revival of TikTok. And next door, the CEOs of semiconductor companies are also suffering from insomnia.

People can suffer from insomnia, but time still passes quietly.

The next day.

Morning time.

After a series of examinations, Jiang Ce, whose head had been shaved bald, lay on a wheelbarrow and was pushed into the operating room.

Qian Qiuliang, Wu Shi, and Chen Guoqiang were all dressed neatly. When Jiang Ce pushed them in, the former comforted them, "Relax, it's okay, you'll be fine after a good night's sleep."

"I try my best."

Jiang Ce responded calmly.

After a night of deep thought, he felt relieved. After all, a year ago, the doctor told him that he would not live more than half a year, and at most only three months.

But after meeting Chen Xing, this president with a keen eye for talent spent a huge sum of money and extended his life for another year.

Now he has explained everything he should, and even if he can't get off the operating table today, he will die without regrets.

"Ready to start?"

On one side of the operating room, someone was debugging the equipment data.

"Yes." Qian Qiuliang nodded and continued, "We will start the implantation operation soon. Once the implantation is completed, it will depend on your WuXi Group's experimental team."

"Then let's get started."

Wang Youpeng responded.

There were two groups of people in the operating room at this time, one was the doctor team from Ruijin Hospital, responsible for the implantation of the brain-computer interface, and the brain-computer interface experimental team from WuXi Group, responsible for the brain-computer debugging after the implantation.

"Ah."

Qian Qiuliang replied.

When the nurse finished preparing the preoperative tools, the anesthesiologist adjusted the amount of anesthesia according to Jiang Ce's height and weight.

"Put on the mask and count. Relax your body and you will be fine after a good night's sleep. Don't worry." The anesthesiologist comforted the doctor.

"understood."

Jiang Ce put on the anesthesia mask and started counting.

"1."

"2."

"3."

……

"5..."

"6..."

When he counted to "7", Jiang Ce's eyelids had completely closed, and the sound he spoke became smaller and smaller, until there was no sound at all.

"The patient is already in anesthesia," the anesthesiologist reminded, and then he returned to his seat.

Normally, he would open his phone and read the news at this time.

But this time is different. This is a brain-computer interface implantation surgery, the first in the world and of great significance. He also kept his eyes on the testing equipment.

at the same time.

Chen Xing, Li Ge, and the doctors in the operating observation room were all concentrating, staring closely at the situation in the operating room through the screen in front of them.

The directors of famous hospitals in Shanghai, including Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Ninth Hospital, Huashan Hospital, and Zhongshan Hospital, gathered in the operating observation room to witness this historic moment.

If ALS can be treated, it means that brain-computer interfaces will open up new medical approaches, and it will no longer be possible to treat patients with neurological diseases such as paralysis, blindness, and epilepsy in the future.

Operating room.

Qian Qiuliang opened Jiang Ce's eyelids and confirmed that he had entered a deep sleep state. He looked at Chen Guoqiang and Wu Shi and said, "The vital signs are stable. Fix the stent."

"it is good."

Wu Shi nodded.

They used a fixed frame to fix Jiang Ce's head, and then slowly adjusted the height. After confirming the operation area, the nurse put earplugs on Jiang Ce's ears, and then used a skin preparation knife to carefully scrape the operation area clean.

Draw lines.

disinfect.

Cover with the first layer of blue surgical drape.

This layer of blue surgical cloth is used to better distinguish the surgical area. It is then covered with a hemostatic towel and then a second layer of surgical cloth, leaving only the area to be operated on exposed.

"Knife."

Chen Guoqiang was the lead surgeon.

The nurse quickly handed over the scalpel.

After he took it, he cut the scalp calmly and without shaking hands. Since the scalp has an extremely rich blood supply, blood gushed out as soon as the scalp was cut.

"Stop the bleeding."

Qian Qiuliang said in a deep voice.

Wu Shi and Chen Guoqiang were not in a hurry. They used disposable scalp clips to clamp the edges of the scalp to prevent excessive bleeding.

After stopping the bleeding, Chen Guoqiang began to cut the muscles that attached the scalp to the skull until the scalp area was lifted up.

"Clean up the remaining tissue."

Qian Qiuliang continued.

Wu Shi used tools to stretch it open first, while Chen Guoqiang cut out the excess muscle tissue to expose the skull inside.

After carefully comparing the areas, they started drilling with tools.

"Zizzi-"

A hole was drilled at each corner of the skull, and then the skull was milled open with a milling cutter, revealing the white dura mater. After cutting open the dura mater, the brain tissue appeared before the public.

"Brain-computer interface." "A1 device."

Qian Qiuliang spoke again.

This time it was no longer the doctors from Ruijin Hospital who performed the operation. Experimental personnel from WuXi Group also stepped in to assist in completing the operation.

The directors observing in the observation room all frowned, as they were not sure whether the brain-computer interface was useful or not.

At present, there is no in-depth research on brain-computer interfaces in academic journals around the world, and this technology is still in a theoretical stage.

When the director of Ruijin Hospital informed them that there was a brain-computer interface implantation surgery, they gathered here to witness the miracle.

"Mr. Chen, Mr. Li, how do you connect neurons with this brain-computer interface?" The director of the Ninth Hospital couldn't help but ask.

As a medical academician, ordinary people have to make an appointment three to five years to see him. He is a true leader in the medical field.

Li Ge glanced at Chen Xing, and after they exchanged glances, he replied, "It uses electrode filaments to read neuronal information, and then converts it into computer language, intervening in the central nervous system and interfering with the operation of neurons."

"I see."

The dean of the Ninth Hospital nodded slightly.

He originally just wanted to ask how to connect, but he didn't expect the other party to explain the principle, and he understood it roughly.

"correct."

Suddenly, the dean asked again.

"If the brain-computer interface can be connected to the human body, the price of this unit will be..."

This issue is sensitive because it involves price issues, but it also reveals that they are very interested in the introduction of brain-computer interfaces.

Li Ge did not answer, or rather, did not dare to answer this question.

He knew very well that the cost price of a single brain-computer interface was only 5 yuan, but the selling price could be ten times or even a hundred times that.

Equipment in the medical field, such as heart stents, only cost a few hundred yuan, or even less, but this is for the manufacturers. For hospitals, the purchase price is thousands of yuan, and when the hospital sells it to patients for surgery, it can cost hundreds of thousands.

Of course.

And the most important point.

That’s how long it takes for brain-computer interfaces to be developed.

“Buy early and enjoy early, buy late and enjoy discounts” is not limited to games, it also applies to the medical field.

When the heart stent was first developed, its cost price was probably around a hundred yuan, but the selling price was over ten thousand yuan.

In addition to heart stents, there are also drugs, even small ibuprofen, the price when it is first launched on the market and the price after the patent expires, which are not on the same level. The price can differ by dozens or even hundreds of times.

"There is no rush to discuss the price. If the brain-computer interface is successfully implanted, I will give you an unexpected price."

Chen Xing kept the question in suspense.

Seeing that Chen Xing didn't want to talk, the deans didn't ask any further questions.

Although they are all medical giants, promoting the development of modern medicine cannot rely on them alone, but also on these technology companies. Moreover, with Chen Xing's current fame and status, they dare not say that he is taking advantage of his seniority. After all, this man has been on the national TV station and was on the same screen with the president of Longke Academy. They cannot afford to offend him.

The operating room fell silent again, and everyone stared at the operating table on the screen. At this moment, Chen Guoqiang was operating the A1 device to implant electrode filaments into Jiang Ce's brain.

One.

Five roots.

Ten.

Chen Guoqiang held his breath and dared not breathe.

Qian Qiuliang, Wu Shi, and Wang Youpeng also held their breath. Now was the most critical moment of the operation. If there was an error in the operation and the artery or blood vessel was punctured, the operation would be a failure and needed to be terminated immediately.

Fortunately, Chen Guoqiang's hands were extremely steady, and with the help of the A1 device, the 24 electrode filaments were inserted into the cortex without any danger.

"Calculate the area and suture the bones."

Qian Qiuliang reminded again.

"clear."

Chen Guoqiang responded, and then he covered the dura mater, cut out the area according to the area of ​​the brain-computer interface, exposed the brain-computer interface, and sutured the dura mater.

"skull."

Chen Guoqiang stretched out his hand.

"Here it is." Wu Shi replied while handing over the skull with the hole opened.

When the skull was put back into Jiang Ce's head, the hole in the middle was located exactly at the area of ​​the brain-computer interface. Chen Guoqiang then used titanium nails to fix the skull bones, and then used the same method to suture the scalp.

"finished."

Chen Guoqiang breathed a sigh of relief.

The words fell.

Everyone in the operating room breathed a sigh of relief.

The anesthesiologist also breathed a sigh of relief. This was one of the few times he did not play with his phone during an operation. He could almost be said to be fully focused.

"Observe whether the patient has any rejection." Qian Qiuliang did not relax.

Implanting a brain-computer interface is not a difficult task, especially with the A1 device and top neurosurgeons. The only thing we are afraid of now is that Jiang Ce will have a rejection reaction.

"Observe for 30 minutes."

Chen Guoqiang nodded.

Everyone in the operating room and the surgical observation room was waiting nervously.

30 minutes passed.

No rejection reaction occurred.

"The patient is in deep sleep and there is no rejection reaction, so we can try to wake him up." Qian Qiuliang spoke again.

"Let him sleep for two hours first, so that his body can get familiar with this foreign object." Wu Shi was worried that something might go wrong if he woke him up too quickly, so he denied his attempt to wake him up.

"Indeed, let him sleep for a while and let his body adjust."

Chen Guoqiang echoed.

Since both surgeons said so, Qian Qiuliang naturally couldn't just do it on his own. After all, there were people watching outside the operating room. If he ignored the patient's comfort, then his life would probably be over.

……

In the blink of an eye, two hours passed.

Jiang Ce was in a daze and heard someone calling him softly, but he clearly remembered that he had just been on the operating table!
Since he had never had a deep sleep surgery, he was very unfamiliar with this feeling. It was like when he was sleeping, he closed his eyes, and then it was daybreak and eight hours had passed.

"Is the...surgery done?" Jiang Ce slowly opened his eyes and looked at the doctors around him.

"Yes, do you feel unwell?" Qian Qiuliang asked quickly.

Jiang Ce's brain gradually became clear. He moved his arms tentatively and shook his head, saying, "I don't think I'm feeling any discomfort."

the other side.

WuXi Group’s research team.

After Jiang Ce woke up, the real-time brain-computer detection device had read the data. Wang Youpeng also approached and said, "Brother Jiang, please move your limbs, blink, breathe and speak as usual. We need to read your neuronal signals, which needs to be done when the implant recipient is awake."

"it is good."

Jiang Ce did as he was told.

His every movement is fully recorded by the brain-computer interface and converted into computer language in real time.

Soon, the brain-computer interface began to intervene, and the more Jiang Ce moved, the more he felt that his whole body seemed to have become a lot lighter.

"It's like, it's like the heaviness is gone, my arms are no longer numb."

As soon as Jiang Ce finished speaking, Wang Youpeng suddenly felt happy and asked quickly, "What else? Are there any other changes?"

"My breathing is smoother now." Jiang Ce replied after taking a deep breath.

In the past, he would feel numbness when moving his limbs, as if the blood supply was blocked and then suddenly restored. To put it more simply, it was like the numbness you feel when you stand up after squatting in the toilet for a long time.

Then there is the issue of breathing. Sometimes his breathing would suddenly stop and he would need to intervene with his own breathing, and he would be woken up in the middle of the night from suffocation from time to time.

But now he felt that his breathing was very smooth, without that sense of obstruction, as if it was a natural flow.

"anything else?"

Wang Youpeng recorded silently.

"My heart doesn't hurt anymore."

"anything else."

"It seems like there is no obstruction in my lungs. I used to have to exert some effort to breathe, but now it seems like my organs have come alive."

"any left?"

“I feel like I can run.”

"Don't!"

When Jiang Ce said they could run, everyone in the operating room panicked.

Anyone who has undergone a craniotomy knows that strenuous exercise is not recommended within six months, let alone running.

Qian Qiuliang said earnestly, "Brother Jiang, this is a major surgery. We do not recommend strenuous exercise within a year. Stay stable first. Do you understand?"

"understood."

Jiang Ce nodded in response.

At this time, Wang Youpeng looked at Qian Qiuliang and said, "Although the recipient has not shown any abnormalities, he still needs to be observed regularly every day. Dean Qian, please pay more attention to him."

"no problem."

Qian Qiuliang glanced at Jiang Ce and told him the plan: "We will check Brother Jiang's physical condition every day, don't worry."

"Ah."

Wang Youpeng nodded slightly.

So far, the brain-computer implant has gone smoothly and the symptoms of ALS have been greatly alleviated, but it still needs further observation and he dare not take it lightly.

And on the other side.

Inside the operating observation room, the directors of major hospitals in Shanghai were all losing their composure.

"What a magical brain-computer interface! It can actually read neuronal signals and make corrections and treatments. I can't believe it!"

"I can guarantee that this is another of the most significant achievements in medical history!"

"There has been substantial progress in neurology, which is good news for patients around the world. However, I don't know whether neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and depression can be cured."

“I think there’s room for growth.”

While expressing their feelings, the directors looked at Chen Xing beside them. They had thought that Longxing Group would not have any cooperation with their hospital, but they did not expect that the first move they made was brain-computer interface, the killer move in neurology.

"Cough cough."

At this time, the director of the Ninth Hospital coughed twice, took out a business card and said, "Mr. Chen is young and promising. Seeing is believing. This is my personal business card. If you have any medical questions, you can call me."

As soon as he finished speaking, the other deans became restless and secretly cursed the dean of the Ninth Hospital for recommending himself without any prior notice.

"I was in a hurry to go out today and didn't bring my business card. Mr. Chen, how about we leave your phone number? I can't say anything else, but as for medical matters, I still have some say."

"Mr. Chen, this is my business card."

"this is mine."

The deans handed over their business cards or their mobile phone numbers, and Chen Xing did not refuse, because their help would be indispensable in the introduction of brain-computer interfaces into clinical medicine in the future.

Li Ge had no say at all and could only wait silently.

However, he knew very well that he had to obtain the OEM rights for the brain-computer interface project as soon as possible, because it was no exaggeration to say that this was a trillion-level project!
(End of this chapter)