Swiping a credit card was something Ian Burkhart, 24, never thought he would do again after being paralyzed from the shoulders down in a diving accident in 2010. He regained functional use of his hand through neural bypass technology.
Six years ago, he was paralyzed in a diving accident. Today, he participates in clinical sessions during which he can grasp and swipe a credit card or play a guitar video game with his own fingers and hand. These complex functional movements are driven by his own thoughts and a prototype medical system.

The device, called NeuroLife, was invented at Battelle, which teamed with physicians and neuroscientists from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to develop the research approach and perform the clinical study. Ohio State doctors identified the study participant and implanted a tiny computer chip into his brain.

This electronic neural bypass for spinal cord injuries reconnects the brain directly to muscles, allowing voluntary and functional control of a paralyzed limb by using his thoughts. The device interprets thoughts and brain signals then bypasses his injured spinal cord and connects directly to a sleeve that stimulates the muscles that control his arm and hand.

Source 

Topics:
Automation Electronic Components Electronics Electronics & Computers Imaging Medical Motion Control Patient Monitoring Rehabilitation & Physical Therapy

More From SAE Media Group