Spinal injury patient controls robotic arm with mindRSS Feed

A man with a spinal injury has been given a robotic arm that he can control with his thoughts, bringing hope to paralysed patients everywhere.

Tim Hemmes, 30, was paralysed after suffering a spinal injury in a motorbike accident in 2004.

In a trial at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Hemmes was able to control the robotic arm with his mind.

An electrode was implanted on the surface of his brain so he could use his thoughts to control the arm.

Just a few days after the surgery, Hemmes was able to high-five a researcher and touch his girlfriend's hand.

He told abc News: "Everybody cheered when I touched the researcher.

"What was I feeling? That word doesn't exist. It was just pure emotion running through me. Then, my girlfriend told me to hold her hand. I have never been able to reach out to her or rub her hand."
 
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