Earlier this month, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPMC) succeeded in implementing a prosthetic arm controlled by a patient’s thoughts. This differs from current generation prosthetics that require electrical signals from muscle or skin sensors, which may or may not function in all patients, especially those with spinal injuries.
Tim Hemmes, after seven years of frustration from a motorcycle accident that left him immobile from the neck down, is one such patient who volunteered for the 30-day human trial of UPMC’s Electrocortigraphy or ECoG Program. A mesh of electrodes was implanted in his brain and wires were threaded underneath his skin to connect to computers and other devices for recording and decoding.
The ECoG program falls under the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) genre, which has mostly been tested on monkeys at UP and other universities.
“This first round of testing reinforces the great potential BCI technology holds for not only helping spinal cord-injured patients become more independent, but also enhancing their physical and emotional connections with their friends and family,” said professor and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. Boninger.
The video below showcases the unique mobility and dexterity offered by BCI technology. Several neurosurgeons, engineers, therapists and neurologists were involved in bringing the project to its current state. Although it is far from market, UPMC has demonstrated early potential to advance the lives of many future patients.
