After careful consideration and the consent of his family, Jiang Ce also signed the surgery agreement and handed over his life to Ruijin Hospital, Longxing Group and WuXi Group.
Why is it said to be handed over to Ruijin Hospital, Longxing Group and WuXi Group?
The reason is very simple. The core technical data of the brain-computer interface is provided by Longxing Group, improved and manufactured by WuXi Group, and then implanted by Ruijin Hospital. Even if there is a problem in one of these three links, it may cause Jiang Ce died.
Night time.
Jiang Ce held a leather knife and thought about life.
Everyone who has had surgery knows that if there is hair in the surgical area, it needs to be shaved clean, and the nurse will prepare a dermatome in advance.
You can choose to shave yourself or have the nurse shave you.
When Jiang Ce had mixed feelings and his thoughts were numb, Chen Xing walked into the ward with packed wontons. He looked at Jiang Ce's dull expression and asked, "What are you thinking about?"< br>
“No…it’s nothing.”
Jiang Ce heard the voice and came back to his senses.
Chen Xing put the small wontons on the bedside table and reminded: "Dean Qian said that you should eat light before the operation, so I brought you some white porridge and wontons. Just eat as you like."
"Thank you, CEO."
"Eat quickly."
"Yes."
Jiang Ce put down the unopened leather knife and picked up the packaged one on the bedside table Food, eaten a little absentmindedly.
Facing an operation that may lead to death, it is useless to say comforting words, because people have a natural fear of death.
Although some people are shouting to die all day long, saying that they will be relieved if they die, in fact, they do not really want to die, but they are too lonely. They just lack love and need a spiritual support.
“It’s delicious, it smells like a company canteen.”
“I tried it specially.”
“That’s no wonder.”
The two of them chatted without a word, and they were about to eat. Jiang Ce asked casually in a very easy-going tone: "Can this brain-computer interface really cure my disease?"
"Don't worry. "
Chen Xing smiled and responded clearly: "ALS is a neuropathy. Our current conversations, every movement, including blinking and breathing, are controlled by specific neuron areas. It is equivalent to the CPU of a computer. In other words, if your CPU has a problem, the brain-computer interface will implant a patch program in you so that your brain neurons can continue to work normally. ”
Red quality. Talent is a rare asset and the foundation of Longxing Group. Chen Xing will not act rashly.
The reason why Jiang Ce was chosen as the first implant target 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 actually does not have many functions. Its biggest feature is that it can read neuron information.
Read neuron information, generate specific computer language, and then intervene in neuropathy by intervening in the central nervous system.
There is no systematic medical explanation for Jiang Ce’s ALS, and even the cause has not been clarified. But one thing is certain, that is, there is no problem with the patient’s early physical function. Gradually losing control of the body for some reason.
Lost control of the body, and neurons happen to be the control centers of the body. How to activate neurons and regain control of the body has become a breakthrough in treatment.
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.
"That's it."
When Jiang Ce heard "patch", he immediately understood. As a worker in the computer field, he was most familiar with patches.
There is a vulnerability in the system, please patch it.
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 it wants to be renovated, it needs to be repaired. The human body can also be compared to a house. Normally, minor illnesses can be treated with injections and medicine. In addition, if you encounter a serious illness, you will have to carry out major projects.
Afraid that Jiang Ce would have insomnia at night, Chen Xing comforted him: "I have read the thousands of experimental results from WuXi Group. The safety level is already very high. Don't worry."
< br>"Yeah."
Jiang Ce nodded.
After he finished eating, Chen Xing picked up the unopened skin preparation knife and said with a smile: "Shall I shave you?"
"Is this okay?"
< br>
Jiang Ce was stunned.
Chen Xing smiled lightly and said: "Of course."
......
At the same time.
The seminar room of Ruijin Hospital.
Qian Qiuliang, Wu Shi, Chen Guoqiang and other medical tycoons continue to hold meetings to discuss how to implant brain-computer interfaces in the safest and most secure manner.
Although implantation is not difficult, they have already opened countless cranial openings, but the difficulty of this operation lies in the unknown.
No one knows what kind of situation the patient will have after the brain-computer interface is implanted, so they need to discuss an emergency rescue plan to increase the error tolerance rate.
The other side.
Wuxi Group Headquarters.
Wang Youpeng, chief executive of 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 completely recorded.
Videos of experimental monkeys, WuXi Group’s database already has thousands of different videos, but there are no human experiments yet.
It is no exaggeration to say that this implantation is related to human medicine.
Li Ge, CEO of WuXi Group, is not idle either. He is already thinking about whether he can cooperate with Longxing Group to develop a brain-computer interface company if the brain-computer interface test is successful. company.
This night.
Many people have insomnia.
Chen Xing, Jiang Ce, Li Ge and others suffered from insomnia due to brain-computer interface implantation surgery, while Renato Marotta, Clayton, Buffett and others on the other side of the ocean were brought back to life because of TikTok As for insomnia, there are also the small days next door where the bosses of semiconductor companies are suffering from insomnia.
People can lose sleep, but time still passes quietly.
The next day.
Morning time.
After a series of examinations, Jiang Ce, who had shaved his head, lay on a pulley and was pushed into the operating room.
Qian Qiuliang, Wu Shi, and Chen Guoqiang were all dressed up. When Jiang Ce pushed in, the former comforted him: "Relax, it's okay, just have a sleep and you'll be fine."
"I'll try my best."
Jiang Ce responded calmly.
After a night of hard thinking, he was relieved a lot. After all, a year ago, the doctor told him that he would not live for half a year, or only three months at most.
But after meeting Chen Xing, this discerning CEO spent a lot of money and forcefully extended his life for another year.
Now he has confessed everything that needs to be explained. Even if he cannot 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 immediately. Once the implantation is completed, it will depend on your WuXi Group's experimental team."
"Let's get started. "
Wang Youpeng responded.
There are two waves of people in the operating room at this time. They are the team of doctors from Ruijin Hospital, responsible for the implantation of the brain-computer interface, and the brain-computer interface experimental team of WuXi Group, responsible for the implantation of the brain. Machine debugging.
“Yes.”
Qian Qiuliang responded.
When the nurse prepared the preoperative tools, the anesthesiologist adjusted the anesthesia intake according to Jiang Ce’s height and weight.
"Put on the mask and count, relax your body, just take a nap and you'll be fine. Don't worry." the anesthesiologist comforted.
“Got it.”
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 his voice became smaller and smaller, and finally there was no sound at all.
"The patient has entered anesthesia." The anesthesiologist reminded him, and then he returned to his seat and sat down.
Generally speaking, it would be time for him to turn on his phone and watch the news.
But this time was different. This time it was a brain-computer interface implantation surgery, the first in the world, which was 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 surgical observation room were all concentrating on the situation in the operating room through the screens in front of them.
The directors of Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong Ninth Hospital, Huashan Hospital, Zhongshan Hospital and other well-known hospitals in Shanghai gathered in the surgical observation room to witness this historic moment.
If ALS can be treated, it means that brain-computer interfaces will open up new medical approaches. In the future, it will no longer be possible to treat patients with neuropathy such as paralysis, blindness, epilepsy, etc.
Operating room.
Qian Qiuliang opened Jiang Ce's eyelids, confirmed that he had entered a deep sleep state, then looked at Chen Guoqiang and Wu Shi and said: "The vital signs are stable, fix the stent."
"Okay. .”
Wu Shi nodded.
I saw them using a fixed frame to fix Jiang Ce’s head, and then slowly adjusted the height. After confirming the surgical area, the nurse put earplugs on Jiang Ce’s ears, and then used a dermatome to carefully perform the surgery. Scrape area clean.
Draw lines.
disinfect.
Cover with the first layer of blue surgical cloth.
This layer of blue surgical cloth is to better distinguish the surgical area. It is then covered with a hemostatic drape, and then covered with a second layer of surgical cloth to expose only the area to be operated on.
“Knife.”
Chen Guoqiang is the chief surgeon.
The nurse quickly handed over the scalpel.
After he took it, he cut open the scalp without panic or shaking hands. Since the blood supply of the scalp was extremely rich, blood gushed out as soon as he cut the scalp.
“Stop the bleeding.”
Qian Qiuliang said solemnly.
Wu Shi and Chen Guoqiang took their time and used disposable scalp clips to clamp the edges of their scalps to prevent excessive bleeding.
After stopping the bleeding, Chen Guoqiang began to cut the muscles connecting the scalp and the skull until the scalp area was lifted.
"Clean up the remaining tissue."
Qian Qiuliang continued.
Wu Shi used tools to open it first, while Chen Guoqiang cut out the excess muscle tissue to expose the skull inside.
After carefully comparing the area, they started drilling the holes with tools.
"Zizzizi——"
A hole was drilled in each corner of the skull, and then a milling cutter was used to cut open the skull. The white paper-like dura mater was also exposed, and the hard meninges were cut open. After the meninges, the brain tissue is also visible to 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 surgery, but laboratory personnel from WuXi Group also began to assist in completing the operation.
The deans observing in the observation room frowned. They were not sure whether the brain-computer interface was useful.
Currently, there is no in-depth research on brain-computer interface in academic journals around the world, and this technology is still in a theoretical state.
When the director of Ruijin Hospital informed that there was a brain-computer interface implant surgery, they gathered here to witness the miracle.
"Mr. Chen, Mr. Li, how do you implement this brain-computer interface to connect neurons?" the dean of the Ninth Hospital couldn't help but ask.
As a medical scholar, ordinary people have to make an appointment for three to five years if they want to see him. He is a true leader in the medical field.
Li Ge glanced at Chen Xing. After the two made eye contact, he replied: "It uses electrode filaments to read neuron information, then converts it into computer language, intervenes in the central nervous system, and interferes with neurons. "
"That's it."
The president of the Ninth Academy nodded slightly.
He originally just wanted to ask how to connect, but unexpectedly the other party explained all the principles, and he got a rough idea.
"That's right."
Suddenly, the dean asked again.
“If the brain-computer interface realizes human body connection, then the price of this single unit is...”
This issue is very sensitive because it involves price issues, but it also exposes their understanding of the brain. I am very interested in the introduction of machine interface.
Li Ge did not answer, or in other words, he did not dare to answer this question.
He knows very well that the cost of a single brain-computer interface is only 50,000 yuan, but the selling price may be ten times, or even hundreds of times.
The cost of equipment in the medical field, such as heart stents, is only a hundred yuan, or even less than a hundred yuan. However, this is for manufacturers. For hospitals, the purchase price is It costs thousands of yuan, and the hospital sells it to patients, and the surgery can cost hundreds of thousands.
Of course.
And the most important point.
That’s when the brain-computer interface was developed.
"Buy early and enjoy early, buy late and enjoy discounts" is not limited to games, but also applies to the medical field.
When the cardiac stent was first developed, its cost may have been a hundred yuan, but its selling price was over 10,000 yuan.
In addition to cardiac stents, there are also drugs, even a small ibuprofen. The price when it is first launched and the price after the patent expires are not the same. The price can differ dozens or hundreds of times. .
"Don't worry about the price. If the brain-computer interface is successfully implanted, I will give you an unexpected price."
Chen Xing sold it out.
Seeing that Chen Xing didn’t want to say anything, the deans didn’t ask further questions.
Although they are all medical experts, to promote the development of modern medicine, we cannot rely only on them, but also on these technology companies. Moreover, with Chen Xing’s current fame and status, they dare not say that they rely on their old age to sell off their old age. After all, They couldn't afford to offend this man who had been on national television and shared a screen with the president of the Dragon Academy of Sciences.
The surgical observation room was silent again, everyone's eyes were fixed on the operating table on the screen. At this time, 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 did not dare to breathe.
Qian Qiuliang, Wu Shi, and Wang Youpeng also held their breaths. Now is the most critical moment of the operation. Once the operation is wrong and an artery or blood vessel is punctured, the operation will be equivalent to failure and needs to be terminated immediately.
Thanks to Chen Guoqiang’s extremely steady hands and the assistance of the A1 device, the 24 electrode filaments were successfully inserted into the cortex.
"Calculate the area and suture the bones."
Qian Qiuliang reminded again.
"Clear."
Chen Guoqiang responded. 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 responded and handed over the skull with the holes drilled.
When the skull was put back on Jiang Ce’s head, the hole in the middle happened to be the brain-computer interface area. Chen Guoqiang then used titanium nails to fix the skull to the bones, and then used the same technique to remove the scalp. Perform suturing.
“It’s done.”
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 surgeries in which he did not play with his mobile phone. He could almost be said to be fully engrossed in the operation.
“Observe the patient for rejection.” Qian Qiuliang did not relax.
Brain-computer interface implantation is not difficult, especially with A1 equipment and top neurosurgeons, but now I am worried that Jiang Ce will have a rejection reaction.
“Observe for 30 minutes.”
Chen Guoqiang nodded.
Everyone in the operating room and surgical observation room is waiting nervously.
30 minutes passed.
No rejection 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 would happen if he woke up quickly, so he denied his awakening.
"Indeed, let him sleep for a while and let his body adjust."
Chen Guoqiang agreed.
The two surgeons said so. Qian Qiuliang naturally could not have his own way. After all, there were people watching outside the operating room. If he ignored the patient's comfort, he would probably be doomed.
……
In the blink of an eye, two hours passed.
In a daze, Jiang Ce heard someone calling him softly, but he clearly remembered that he had just been on the operating table!
Since he had never had deep sleep surgery, he was very unfamiliar with this feeling. It was like sleeping, closing his eyes, hey, it was dawn, and eight hours had passed.
"Hand...surgery done?" Jiang Ce slowly opened his eyes and looked at the doctors around him.
"Yes, do you feel any discomfort in your body?" Qian Qiuliang asked quickly.
Jiang Ce's brain gradually became clear. He moved his arms tentatively, shook his head and said, "It doesn't seem to be uncomfortable."
On the other side.
WuXi Group’s scientific research team.
After Jiang Ce woke up, the brain-computer real-time detection equipment had read the data. Wang Youpeng also approached and said: "Brother Jiang, you move your limbs, blink, inhale and speak in daily life. We need Reading your neuron signals needs to be done while the implanter is awake. ”
Jiang Ce did as he was told.
Every one of his activities is completely recorded by the brain-computer interface and converted into computer language in real time.
After a while, the brain-computer interface began to intervene. The more Jiang Ce moved, the more he felt that his whole body seemed to be lighter.
"It seems, it seems that the heaviness has disappeared, and my arms are no longer numb."
As soon as Jiang Ce finished speaking, Wang Youpeng felt happy and quickly asked: "And Is there any change?"
"Breathing is easier," Jiang Ce replied after taking a deep breath.
In the past, when he moved his limbs, he felt numb, as if the blood was blocked and the blood supply was suddenly restored. In more popular terms, it was like squatting in a pit for a long time. The numbness of standing up.
There is also breathing. Sometimes he will suddenly stop and need to intervene in breathing. From time to time, he will be woken up in the middle of the night.
But now he feels that he is breathing very smoothly, without any sense of obstruction, as if it comes naturally.
“What else?”
Wang Youpeng recorded silently.
“My heart doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“There’s more.”
“There seems to be no obstruction in the lungs. I used to have to exert a little effort to breathe, but now it seems like my lungs are no longer blocked. All alive."
"Is there any more?"
"I feel like I can run away."
Jiang When Ce said he could run, everyone in the operating room panicked.
Anyone who has had a craniotomy knows that strenuous exercise, let alone running, is not recommended within half a year.
Qian Qiu Liang's words were serious and he warned: "Brother Jiang, this is a major surgery. We don't recommend you to do strenuous exercise for a year. You need to stabilize yourself first. Do you understand?"
"I know."
Jiang Ce nodded in response.
At this time, Wang Youpeng looked at Qian Qiu Liang and said: "Although there is no abnormality in the implanter now, it needs to be observed regularly every day. Dean Qian, please be more careful."
"That's no problem."
Qian Qiuliang glanced at Jiang Ce and said the plan: "We will test Brother Jiang's physical condition every day, don't worry."
" "Hmm."
Wang Youpeng nodded slightly.
So far, everything is going well with the brain-computer implantation, and the symptoms of ALS have been greatly alleviated, but in-depth observation is still needed, and he does not dare to take it lightly.
And on the other side.
In the surgical observation room, the directors of major hospitals in Shanghai were collectively not calm.
"What a magical brain-computer interface. It can really read neuron signals and make corrections and treatments. I can't imagine it!"
"I can guarantee that this is the most colorful event in the history of medicine!" "
"Substantial progress has been made in neurology, which is good news for patients around the world, but we don't know whether it can cure neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, mania, and depression."
"I think. There is room for development."
While sighing, the deans looked at Chen Xing beside them. They thought that Longxing Group would not have any cooperation with their hospital, but they did not expect that they would use brain machines. Interfaces, neurology’s big deal.
"Ahem."
At this time, the dean of the Ninth Academy coughed twice, took out a business card and said: "Mr. Chen is young and promising. Hearing about it a hundred times is better than seeing it once. This is My personal business card, if you have any medical matters, you can call me.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the other deans were not calm, and secretly cursed the dean of the Ninth Hospital for not saying hello, so he recommended himself. .
“I am in a hurry today and I didn’t bring my business card. Mr. Chen, please leave us a phone number. I dare not say anything else. As for medical matters, I still have some say.”
< br>"Mr. Chen, this is my business card."
"This is mine."
The deans handed over business cards, and those who left their mobile phone numbers left their mobile phone numbers. Chen Xing did not refuse, because they will be indispensable for brain-computer interfaces to enter clinical medicine in the future. Help.
Li Ge was completely speechless and could only wait silently.
However, he knew very well that he had to win the foundry rights for the brain-computer interface project as soon as possible, because it is no exaggeration to say that this is a trillion-level project!
(End of this chapter)