New AI-Powered Brain Implant Restored Feeling And Movement For A Quadriplegic Man

[Beartracks]

New AI-Powered Brain Implant Restored Feeling And Movement For A Quadriplegic Man

In 2020, Keith Thomas suffered a diving accident that injured his C4 and C5 vertebrae, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. Three years later, an advanced clinical trial by researchers from Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research has restored feeling and movement to Thomas’ right hand.

A double neural bypass connects the brain, spinal cord, and body to establish mobility and tactility. During the 15-hour surgery, Thomas received five AI-enabled electrode arrays in precise regions of his brain, which are in charge of motion and feeling in his right hand. During the surgery, Thomas felt his right fingers for the first time in nearly three years.

“This is the first time the brain, body, and spinal cord have been linked together electronically in a paralyzed human to restore lasting movement and sensation,” said Bouton in a statement last week.

The surgery also entailed the installation of external ports at the top of Thomas’ head. The researchers hook up an AI program to these ports to perform thought-driven therapy, in which the program translates Thomas’ brain activity into actions. The AI registers inputs from Thomas’ brain and then transforms them into signals passed through externally placed electrodes on his arm that stimulate movement. In the months since the surgery, Thomas progressed and was able to move and feel his right wrist and arm, even when the equipment is switched off.

More: https://www.inverse.com/science/ai-powered-brain-implant-restored-feeling-movement-quadriplegic-man

-------------
I looked to see if this story had been posted, and found a similar story posted here by Judi Lynn in 2020: https://upload.democraticunderground.com/122870081

I suppose this newer technology represents some incredible progress!

==============