Stairmed Technology

Shanghai Ladder Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (StairMed), established in August 2021, is a company operating at the forefront of the invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) sector. The firm was co-founded by CEO Zhao Zhengtuo, an alumnus of the University of Michigan and the University of Texas at Austin, and Li Xue, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Positioned in a highly specialized segment of the medical technology market, StairMed is dedicated to developing implantable BCI platform systems to address neurological diseases and restore human functions such as movement and sensation.

The company's core business revolves around the full-stack development of its BCI technology, from proprietary neural interfaces to the surgical robots needed for their implantation. Its primary product is an implantable BCI system featuring ultra-flexible micro-nano electrodes. These electrodes, reported to be one-hundredth the thickness of a human hair, are designed for high biocompatibility to minimize tissue damage and enable stable, long-term neural signal recording. The implant itself is notably compact, approximately half the thickness of Neuralink's device, allowing for a minimally invasive surgical procedure through a small cranial puncture of 3-5 millimeters. The system includes the "AUFEIS" assisted implantation surgical robot and the "StairPlex" high-throughput neural signal acquisition system.

StairMed's business model is centered on the clinical application and eventual commercialization of these medical devices. The company serves patients with paralysis and other neurological disorders, aiming to restore functions like movement control and communication. A significant milestone was achieved in March 2025, when a patient who had lost all four limbs successfully controlled a computer and played video games after receiving the implant, marking a major step in the company's clinical trials. Having passed regulatory testing for medical devices in China, the system is the country's first high-throughput invasive BCI product to meet medical standards. The company has secured substantial funding, including a notable 350 million RMB Series B round, to advance clinical trials and construct a medical-grade MEMS production base, with a goal of commercial launch around 2028.

Keywords: Brain-Computer Interface, BCI, neurotechnology, medical devices, implantable systems, neural interface, flexible electrodes, neuroprosthetics, paralysis treatment, neuroscience, Zhao Zhengtuo, StairMed, Shanghai, medical robotics, clinical trials, MEMS, neuro-rehabilitation, movement restoration, sensory perception repair, neurological diseases