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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Patients with paralysis could one day use a smartphone or tablet just thinking about what they wanted to do with sensors implanted in their brains, according to a recent study.
Previous experiments have had some success using brain sensors connected to modified computers to help paralysis patients write up to 8 words per minute, but current experience is focused on helping patients to use tablets and smartphones without any particular modifications, according to Reuters.
"We may still have years to get a device that can be installed and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration so that it can be used on a large scale, but I'm convinced that most of the technological hurdles have been removed and we will see in the near future assistive devices, "Henderson said in an email. Allow people with paralysis to control a computer using only their ideas. "
The trial included only 3 patients, two of whom with weakness or inability to move arms and legs due to multiple sclerosis, while the third patient was paralyzed as a result of multiple sclerosis. an injury to the spine.
Scientists have installed devices the size of an aspirin in a region of the brain called the motor cortex, responsible for planning and conducting voluntary movements.
The device aims to monitor the signals associated with the desired movements and then transfer them to a device, "Bluetooth", designed to function as a computer mouse connected to a "Google Nexus 9" wireless computer, which scientists do not have not changed it.
Using the wireless sensor and mouse, participants in the experiment were able to navigate through popular programs on the Tablet PC, including e-mail, chat, music, and video.
It also allows patients to send messages to their relatives, friends, and members of the research team, as well as to other people. Participants also entered the Internet, checked the weather and made electronic purchases.
One of the patients played the piano and managed to play a piece of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
The researchers were able to perform 22 tasks and push up to the minute using different applications, the researchers wrote in the magazine Plus One.
For text applications, participants could write up to 30 characters per minute.
The experiment was performed by a team of doctors, scientists and engineers. The team noted that the device used in the current experiment could allow people to move the arms of the mechanism or regain control of limbs despite loss of mobility due to injury or illness.
Stephen Chase, associate director of neuroscience at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said the one-of-a-kind experience was that it did not require modification of the tablets but could be applied to the same devices as those in good health.
"This means that it will not be necessary to design special software for users of these devices, which greatly increases the number of applications that these patients will be able to treat," said Chase did not participate in the experiment.
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