Adam Fritz trying to walk in the iMove Center at UC Irvine (Reuters)
The amount of progress scientists, engineers, and engineers have made in the medical field is remarkable. We can see innovations from treatment methods all the way to 3D printed body parts. On Wednesday a team of doctors reported that former graduate student at UC Irvine Adam Fritz, who had severed his spinal cord in a motor cycle accident, was the first patient to walk without the use of robotics. This was done with the use of “a brain-to-computer technology that can translate thoughts into leg movements.” This brain-to-computer systems works by “allowing the brain to bypass the injured spinal cord and instead send messages through a computer algorithm to electrodes placed around the patient’s knees to trigger controlled leg muscle movements.” I was in awe when reading the article because I didn’t think scientists were so close to implementing anything even remotely close to a brain-to-computer technology such as this. Although Dr. An Do, one of the study co-authors, states that the process may be able to help stroke and spinal injury victims regain some mobility some day, that day is a years from now because the results of the study need to be replicated and refined. The refining would be done by “miniaturizing the EEG component enough to be implanted inside the patient’s skull or brain, allowing for clearer reception of the neural messages and perhaps the delivery of pressure sensation from sensors in the foot back to the brain.”
In a way the procedure reminds me of the Internet of Things. Although it’s not entirely the same, some of the components are, especially the fact that sensors would be used to send sensations in the foot back to the brain. Even though a larger scale version is years away, I think Dr. Do’s study is worth it and will have amazing outcomes for the medical industry. What do you guys think of the brain-to-computer system?
Here’s the article: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/24/us-usa-health-paraplegic-idUSKCN0RO06620150924
After reading your post, I did a little more research on my own and read about something called “BrainGate”. It states that some paralyzed patients could soon be using a wireless brain-computer interface able to stream their thought commands as quickly as a home internet connection. This group of people were based out of Brown and were the first to place implants in the brains of paralyzed people and show that electrical signals emitted by neurons inside the cortex could be recorded, then used to steer a wheelchair or direct a robotic arm.
One problem that the researchers at UC Irvine faces was trying to refine the technology by miniaturizing the EEG component enough to be implanted inside the patient’s skull or brain, allowing for clearer reception of the neural messages and perhaps the delivery of pressure sensation from sensors in the foot back to the brain. It seems that BrainGate has already done that, so I don’t think that it will take long for UC Irvine to do it too.
I think that some large groups of people who could benefit from these would be just normal people who were either born paralyzed or had an accident resulting in paralyzation and also war vets. While many use prosthetic limbs, a lot of people have become paralyzed due to spinal cord injuries. With the help of UC Irvine’s Brain computer or BrainGate, some of these soldiers and people who were told would never walk again, may just have the chance to do just that.
Here’s the article to read more about BainGate: http://www.technologyreview.com/news/534206/a-brain-computer-interface-that-works-wirelessly/
This is really cool to see the technology is developing really fast. However, everything has a side-effect. Cons are the brain is incredibly complex; the signals are week and are prone to interference; surgery to brain might be risky and causes brain death. And also there are chemical reactions involved in brain which BCI devices cannot pick up, the equipment is less then portable.
Brain to Computer Interface Pros are can help people with in abilities to control wheel chairs or other devices with brain activity; to develop better sensing system; linguistic independent and can be used any where across the world; this has provided new area of work for scientists and researches around the world.
Hello, nice blog!
It’s incredible that the technology is developing really fast and secretly, and we also started realizing in our daily life. I just saw a student who don’t have hands and legs walking with artificial limb and buying meals on himself. Very admirable.
This brain-to-computer system is fantastic, because it can really help spinal injury victims regain some mobility in the future. It’s definitely worth trying. This can also be applied to other victims, as long as they can think and send out brain wave.
Moreover, with this technology, there will be many other applications: using brain wave to do tons of things: writing homework, replying email, even open the television with your brain wave!
However, we may have an issue: will that create more risk if these people totally rely on this machine? What if it breaks down, or someone try to break them? These will put that people into real danger if he is out of care and attention.
We also need to know how to make it more convenient, because the brain wave detecting machine looks really uncomfortable.
I also found some nice video which can better address this issue! Please check it out:
Brain-computer interface restores walking after paraplegia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RonJodXC7fg
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