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Quadriplegic able to move hand thanks to "Neurobridge" microchip brain implant

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X

XiaNaphryz

LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
http://news.sky.com/story/1288819/quadriplegic-moves-hand-with-brain-microchip

A paralysed man has been able to move his fingers and hand with his own thoughts thanks to a pioneering operation that implanted a microchip in his brain.

Ian Burkhart, a 23-year-old quadriplegic from Ohio, is the first patient to use Neurobridge, which is described as "an electronic neural bypass for spinal cord injuries" that reconnects the brain directly to muscles.

Scientists at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center took almost 10 years to develop the system.

Ian said of the achievement: "Today was great. I mean to be able to open and close my hand and do those complex movements that I haven't been able to do in four years was great.

"It's definitely great for me to be as young as I am when I was injured because the advancements in science and technology are growing rapidly and they're only going to continue to increase."

Mr Burkhart was paralysed four years ago during a diving accident that left him unable to move from the chest down.

The Neurobridge technology combines algorithms that learn and decode the user's brain activity and a high-definition muscle stimulation sleeve that translates neural impulses from the brain and transmits new signals to the paralysed limb.

In this case, Ian's brain signals bypass his injured spinal cord and move his hand, hence the name Neurobridge.

Once a user thinks of what they want to do, the muscles can respond within a tenth of a second.

Ali Rezai, Neurosurgeon at Ohio State University took three hours to implant the chip which is about the same size as a pea.

"The surgery required the precise implantation of the microchip sensor in the area of Ian's brain that controls his arm and hand movements," Mr Rezai said.

It is hoped this technology may one day help patients affected by various brain and spinal cord injuries such as strokes and traumatic head injury.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avb2Tm5yRg4

TvNHlnh.gif
 
G

GhaleonEB

Member
The Neurobridge technology combines algorithms that learn and decode the user's brain activity and a high-definition muscle stimulation sleeve that translates neural impulses from the brain and transmits new signals to the paralysed limb.

In this case, Ian's brain signals bypass his injured spinal cord and move his hand, hence the name Neurobridge.
Click to expand...
I had no idea this was even in the cards; everything I'd read about spinal injuries had dealt with repairing the spine somehow. Simply amazing.
 
O

Omega Ultimus

Member
I really can't think of anything meaningful to say-it's just a wonder and a triumph. Really beautiful, and it makes me reconsider if I should go into neuroscience or not. Hope more innovations are along the way to give those less fortunate a chance to overcome their disabilities.
 
A

Arksy

Member
GhaleonEB said:
I had no idea this was even in the cards; everything I'd read about spinal injuries had dealt with repairing the spine somehow. Simply amazing.
Click to expand...

I know right? It really takes a moment of creative talent to basically say "fuck the spine".
 
C

Chronoja

Member
Pretty impressive stuff. It's always impressive to see these kind of advancements.

Plus imagine what happens if someone else wears the sleeve. It would be possible to control someone elses body mentally which I'd say would be a fairly odd experience.
 
V

Vincent Alexander

Member
Maybe this is getting too sci-fi, but what if the chip was placed in a man's brain, but the muscle stimulators on another person's arm. Could he control someone else's limbs? Or would that own person's brain overpower?
 
B

BobTheFork

Member
I just saw it happen and I still fell like I can't honestly believe it.

I thought this kind of thing was many years away from even a possible test.

This man isn't going to become fully mobile again. Hopefully in a few hundred years when it's basically Ghost in the Shell, this man's name and face are in a museum for having the balls to let them do this.


I really want to follow the rest of this guy's life. The most interesting thing to me is not that this happened but it's all the benefits and potential consequences he faces. Maybe that chip breaks down over a long time or has long term problems but someone has to have the balls to be first.

*fuck yeah fist bump*
 
J

- J - D -

Member
The way the article is worded, it seems like there needs to be some effort made to think of what you want the muscle to do. So in some sense it's still some ways off from perfect response. But hell, it's still amazing.
 
P

PlayALLtheGames

Banned
It's just a matter of time before paralysis becomes a thing of the past.

Microchips in the brain will fix a lot of things over time. I wonder if one day they could become the (illegal) steroids of the future. "Let me get that speed chip bro."
 
E

ezrarh

Member
This is great, I'm excited for where things are going to move in the future. It's a little late to help my dad but it's going to help many people out as this develops even more.
 
T

TAJ

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
This is just the start of a plot to use quadriplegics as remote-controlled assassins/patsies.
I keed.

I wonder if they'll ever be able to make the communication two-way.
 
I

Iolo

Member
The cool part is what requires a bulky external computer today will be done even better by a wristwatch or implanted computer in the not too distant future.
 
S

Schadenfreude

Member
After seeing this and the video of the animatronic machine with the super dexterous finger movements I am convinced that we're getting closer to the Star Wars future of awesome robotic prosthetics for amputees and the like.
 
MisterHero

MisterHero

Super Member
While organic(?) body repairs are ideal, I never gave up on bionics!

Someday we will have entire 3D printed bodies and we can live forever

davepoobond said:
Why we still got spines
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To support your body when you're running from the bionics and machines that thirst for your grey matter.
 
X

xbhaskarx

Member
Cosmo Clock 21 said:
Yeah can't wait for the u/dystopian future where spines aren't even necessary anymore
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That's basically how the average sci-fi movie treats all advancements in science/technology.

You sheep think this is wonderful but what happens when the spine replacement chips turn sentient and use quadriplegic humans as life sized rock em sock em robots for gambling purposes?
 
F

fallagin

Member
Oh great. Now people with severe spinal cord injuries can move their limbs.

We really needed another scientific breakthrough.

italics
 
E

Emperor Bohe

Member
Dipz said:
FC 175 Main Card

Chris Weidman (c) vs. Lyoto Machida
Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Alexis Davis
Stefan Struve vs. Matt Mitrione
Uriah Hall vs. Thiago Santos
Marcus Brimage vs. Russell Doane

Seriously, none of the bolded matchups really belong on an International Fight Week PPV main card. Maybe one of them to kick off the PPV would be acceptable. They are charging 59.95 for HD for this shit. I really hope this bombs in terms of buys, because this card really is not worth it one bit. The Ultimate has decided to present feces on a silver platter to us and swear up and down that it has the same worth as the caviar we paid the same price for a year or two prior.

I mean seriously, does anyone here know who Thiago Santos is? And no, it's not the Thiago Santos who memorably rendered Eric Prindle unable to conceive future offspring, this is ANOTHER Thiago Santos who fights at middleweight. Apparently that name is the Brazilian equivalent of John Smith. Who knew?

But DONT JUDGE THE CARD UNTIL YOU SEE THE FIGHTS, right friends?
Click to expand...

wat

Edit: nice edit haha
 
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