中风是导致长期失能的主要原因之一，约有三分之二幸存者出现明显手臂与手部功能受损。Epia Neuro（总部位于旧金山）提出以脑机介面搭配动力护手套，协助患者恢复握持。此领域近年资金大量涌入：Neuralink 去年筹得 5.00 亿美元，Sam Altman 的 Merge Labs 则在 1 月获得 2.52 亿美元。Epia 的目标是让患者重拾自身手部运动能力，而非仅控制外部设备。

Epia 的圆盘形植入体置于颅骨内，侦测与「想要动手」相关的大脑讯号，并与护手套外部感测器资料合成，由 AI 预测并驱动开合抓握。这套系统依循神经可塑性概念：中风损伤阻断运动讯号传向肌肉，但大脑仍保留运动意图。Epia 由未受损脑区读取讯号，再由护手套转译为运动，并借由重复使用加强运动相关神经通路，使患者日后较少依赖护手套。David Lin 指出，其他脑机介面多著重让人完成特定任务，Epia 更著重于长期复健，期待在取下装置后本体功能仍可改善。

可扩展性是主要瓶颈，植入方式需简化以降低风险并提高接受度。Epia 程序中仅移除小片颅骨，植入体即可替换该区，整体花费不到 1 小时，由参与设计的神经外科医师执行；日后也可升级或更换。头戴充电器每隔数日可为植入体充电。FDA 曾核准 Washington University 衍生的可穿戴 IpsiHand（搭配机械手套），其 30 名中风患者在 12 周（约 84 天）试验中显示运动控制改善，但缺乏对照组；另外，69 位筛选者中有 15 位无法产生可辨识脑讯号。Epia 计划本年度稍晚在纽约 Lenox Hill 医院先行首次人体示范，并目标在 2026 年底前扩展至其他据点。

Stroke is a leading source of long-term disability, and roughly two-thirds of survivors suffer major hand-and-arm impairments. Epia Neuro, a San Francisco startup, is developing a brain-computer interface paired with a motorized glove to help patients regain gripping function, fitting into a field that has seen intense recent investment—Neuralink raised $500 million last year and Merge Labs raised $252 million in January. The company aims to restore patients’ own hand movement, not only enable remote control of another device.

Epia’s disk-shaped implant sits in the skull to capture neural signals linked to hand-intent, then combines them with glove sensor data so AI can predict and drive grasping actions. The approach leverages neuroplasticity: although stroke blocks motor signals from reaching muscles, movement intentions remain in the brain. By reading signals from undamaged regions and translating them into glove motion, the system learns each patient’s intent pattern and, with repeated use, may strengthen movement pathways and reduce dependence on the glove over time. David Lin notes a contrast with many BCIs that mainly help users perform tasks; this is framed as rehabilitative therapy intended to improve native arm and hand function after use.

Scalability is a central challenge for BCIs, so implantation safety and simplicity matter. Epia’s procedure removes a small skull section, installs the implant in under one hour, and allows for future upgrades or replacement; patients recharge the implant every few days with a headset. FDA had previously authorized the wearable IpsiHand system from Washington University, and its 30-participant, 12-week (about 84-day) trial showed improved motor control without a control group, with 15 of 69 screened participants unable to produce clear control signals. Epia plans its first-in-human demonstration later this year at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, then broader site testing by the end of 2026.