A glimmer of hope for paralyzed patients to use tablets

A glimmer of hope for paralyzed patients to use tablets

Experience the implantation of sensors in their brain

Scientists are trying to grow aspirin-sized devices responsible for planning and performing voluntary movements (AB)

California: Middle East Online

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Patients with paralysis could one day use a smartphone or tablet just thinking about what they want to do, using sensors implanted in their brains, according to a recent study.
Previous experiments have had some success using brain sensors connected to computers modified to help paralysis patients write up to eight words a minute, but the current experience is centered on the ## EQU1 ## 39, helping patients, said Jamie Henderson of the Faculty of Medicine at Stanford University in California. In the use of tablet PCs and smart phones without any special modification.
"We may still have years to get a device that can be put in place and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to make it available for widespread use," Henderson said. But I am convinced that most of the technological hurdles have been removed and we will see in the near future aids allowing paralyzed people to control the computer using only their ideas ".
The trial included only three patients, two with weak legs or unable to move their arms and legs due to lateral sclerosis, while the third patient was paralyzed as a result of 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 purpose of the device is to monitor the signals associated with the desired movements and then transfer them to a device that uses Bluetooth and is designed to function as a mouse computer connected to a Google Nexus 9 wireless computer, which scientists do not have. amended.
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 team members, 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 up to 22 trigger tasks and click the minute using different applications, they wrote in the journal Plus One.
For text applications, participants could write up to 30 characters per minute.
The experiment was conducted by a team of doctors, scientists and engineers. The team previously indicated that the device used in the current experiment could allow people to move the arms of the mechanism or regain control of the limbs, despite loss of mobility due to injury or illness .
"The unique experience is that it does not require any modification of the tablets, it can apply to the same devices as healthy people," said Steven Chase, deputy director of neuroscience at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Ontario. Pennsylvania.
"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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