Inoculation of the chip into the brain restores motor ability to paralyzed people

For the first time in the world, an American polio man can move his finger after being implanted into the brain.

According to the BBC, after the chip implant, Ian Burkhart, who lives in Ohio, USA, can handle things, even play guitar with electronic computers. The chip reads signal waves emitted from the brain, decoded by a computer. Then he used electrical signals to stimulate the muscles on Ian's body to move his limbs.

Researchers hope this technology will help millions of people with polio, stroke or brain damage.

Ian, 24, was seriously injured six years ago while he was diving. The spinal cord was damaged so the brain could not transmit signals to the lower body, causing Ian to be paralyzed from the elbow down, unable to walk.

However, after many years, Ian was able to move his hand for the first time, after treatment at Ohio State University. A sensor is implanted in Ian's brain, reading the activity of hundreds of neurons in the cortex that governs movement.

Ian spent hours sitting on the computer, teaching him to read the signals emitted from the cerebral cortex, and wearing a belt of 130 electrodes stimulating and contracting the muscles on his right hand. As a result, now Ian has grabbed and moved large objects or swiped credit cards. Experimental results are published in the April 13 issue of Nature.

After many years, Ian moved his hand for the first time.

Ian said that the test was like a 7-hour exam, making him "extremely tired and exhausted".

"You have to focus on thinking about the movement, every little move. For the first time in 19 years of my life, I have a desire to do such a thing."

Through many hours of practice, Ian was finally more mature. He is dreaming about the day when he fully restores the function of his hands, to "do simple things for himself without needing others".

This study is a breakthrough in the field of electronic computer applications to eliminate the effects of spinal injury.

In 2012, a woman was also fitted with a robot arm, and used her mind to control it. By brain chip technology, patients can control their bodies, without using a robot skeleton.

"We are delighted that there has been significant progress with this technology," said Dr. Ali Rezai, neurosurgeon who implanted the chip for Ian.

"This technology brings new hope. We believe that, for many patients in the future, when this technology grows, it will help those who suffer from spinal cord trauma. Traumatic brain injury, or stroke, allows them to be more independent and more active. "

One of the challenges of this technology is to turn laboratory success into an application in everyday life. Currently, this technology still requires a chip implant in the brain, accompanied by a complex wiring system. It also needs a large computer to perform difficult-to-read brain signal algorithms.

In addition, although he was able to move, Ian's hand was still very unnatural. The cerebral cortex commanding movement contains millions of nerve cells, which the chip reads only a few hundred cells. In the future, hope this technology is improved, complete rehabilitation for patients.