Reversing Paralysis

Reversing Paralysis

       Over 5.4 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with varying levels of paralysis. Paralysis is a complete or partial loss of sensation and ability for motion in any section of the body that can be caused by an accident, fall, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and many more illnesses and activities. Currently, depending on the severity of the paralysis, victims may be largely dependent on others for performing their simple day to day tasks. The large population of paralysis victims and the challenges of supporting the victims is overwhelming. However, in March of 2017, the furthest yet advancement in brain microprocessor implantation was made. 

Common Types of Paralysis

     Some of the earliest technology developed regarding brain power within technology was in 1998 to move a cursor around a computer screen by connecting a metal probe into the brain to read the brainwaves. Similar projects to this succeeded in laboratories but they were not able to be applied to the everyday life of humans outside of the lab. It took almost twenty years to develop (and still further developing better versions) of a software.

       The latest clinical trial by the Braingate team working at Case Western University was able to take treatment of this paralysis to the next level. Previously, only mobility of the arm or the ability to grasp with the hand was able to be regained through this type of treatment. Now, with their advances of the updated microprocessing system, patients are able to utilize mobility of their arm and also grasp with their fingers. The ability to use both of these motions simultaneously is life-changing for many patients. Previously, the system required a probe to be surgically inserted into the patient's skull and to be connected to a computer for communication of the device; along with placing electrodes in the muscles and a source to send pulses to the electrons in the muscles to trigger muscle movement. The latest microprocessor software actually eliminates the probe altogether by being made of a bundle of electrodes. Now, newer applications are allowing the implantation to be mostly wireless allowing for a more easily applicable software for the patients and for more of a mainstream use.

Video of Bill Kochevar (patient) Discussing his Treatment

     Bill Kochevar is one of the very first people to have a successful implantation of two recording implants into his brain that are made of silicon and a hundred tiny metal probes that can listen to the neurons being fired in the brain and communicate the information to the other electrodes that are inserted into his hand and arm muscles, all of these pieces being smaller than a postage stamp. The bundle of electrodes are placed around the spinal cord while a recording device is placed beneath the skull, touching the motor cortex of the brain. This allows for a much more direct form of wireless communication. The process is extremely successful for him, as without this procedure he was completely unable to perform any of the tasks as he did in the video. It did take many months before he reached peak functionality of the new technology as he had to learn how to train his body to use it through his brain. This procedure has the potential to provide many patients, just like Bill, with the opportunity of having some more independence as he was completely dependent on others before his procedure. 

Brain Reading Chip with electrodes.

Electrodes designed to simulate the spinal cord. 

The latest wireless microprocessors have been successfuly tested in primates before they were tested in humans like Bill Kochevar. The primate studies are continuing and slimmer and more compact designs for neurocommunications are trying to be developed still, as this entire process is still very expensive and only available through clinical trials. Hopefully, as doctors, scientists, and engineers collaborate to further the advances in paralysis reversal technology, the procedure of returning mobility to paralysis patients will become more mainstream. 

Example of Primate Paralysis Reversal Devices

Prototype of Wireless Neurocommunication Device

     As prototypes advance, the possibilities advance as well. This neuro-technology is an important part of the scientific medicine of our society. If scientists are able to restore functionality to paralysis patients, their lives will be transformed for the better and they may be able to return to their previous lives. Other types of neuro-software can be based upon this study as well, to treat other types of problems in the body.

Works Cited

"Clinical Trials." BrainGate. N.p., 17 Feb. 2017. Web. 

Jarosiewicz, B., A. A. Sarma, J. Saab, B. Franco, S. S. Cash, E. N. Eskandar, and L. R. Hochberg. "Retrospectively Supervised Click Decoder Calibration for Self-calibrating Point-and-click Brain-computer Interfaces." Journal of Physiology, Paris. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2017. Web. 

"Paralysis." Reeve Foundation. U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, n.d. Web. 

Regalado, Antonio. "A Brain Implant Is Helping a Paralyzed Monkey Walk Again." MIT Technology Review. MIT Technology Review, 06 Apr. 2017. Web. 

Regalado, Antonio. "A Brain Implant Is Helping a Paralyzed Monkey Walk Again." MIT Technology Review. MIT Technology Review, 06 Apr. 2017. Web.