Experimential Implant

Researchers have used a new experimental implant that has allowed a disabled man to carry out certain basic tasks using his mind. The implant translates the man's thoughts into action and is being heralded as a potential breakthrough in the treatment of quadriplegics and other disabled individuals.

Doctors placed an implant in the brain of 25-year-old Matt Nagle who has been unable to use his arms or legs since being injured in a knife attack in 2001. By using the sensor, Nagle was able to play video games, grab a piece of candy with a prosthetic hand and even draw simple figures using a computer paint program.

The results of the study were published in the journal 'Nature.' Researchers indicated that they are hopeful that this technology can be used to help disabled people perform basic tasks independently.

`When you think about the spinal cord injury field, it was only a short time ago there wasn't any credible research, only a short time ago when there wasn't any hope,' Susan Howley, director of research for the Christopher Reeve Foundation, told the 'San Jose Mercury-News.'

'We don't necessarily have to think about enormous leaps in order to improve the independence and quality of life for people living day to day with paralysis.'

The long-term hope is that the technology used in this implant can be perfected to help paralyzed patients to walk again although that is still years away. In fact, the implant will not be available commercially in any form for a few years.

'This is a great first step, but there's still a lot to be learned,' admitted Dr. Leigh Hochberg, the lead author of the study. 'The dream for the research is to one day hopefully be able to connect brain to limb,' he added. 'We still have a lot to learn to get there, but this is exciting.'

Source - Elites TV

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