An individual who was paralysed has restored sensation in his limbs through the placement of an AI-assisted implant in his brain.
In a groundbreaking clinical trial, a stimulation technology was employed to bring back the sense of touch and movement for Keith Thomas, a man who had been paralysed from the waist down due to a diving incident in 2020.
After enduring a year as a quadriplegic, Thomas was invited by the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in the United States to participate in a study that proposed a unique approach involving a dual neural bypass. This novel technique aimed to reroute brain signals, thus reinstating both movement and sensation.
During an intricate 15-hour surgery, five microchips were implanted into his brain, effectively reconnecting his brain with his body through the aid of artificial intelligence. Thomas remained conscious during a portion of the procedure, enabling medical professionals to accurately position the chips in regions of the brain associated with perception and tactile experience.
According to Chad Bouton, a professor at the Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes and the leader of the clinical trial, this is the first time that a paralysed individual’s brain, body, and spinal cord have been electronically linked, resulting in the restoration of lasting movement and sensation.
Bouton explained that when the study participant thinks about moving his arm or hand, the implant ‘supercharges’ his spinal cord, simultaneously stimulating his brain and muscles. This process helps reconstruct connections, offers sensory feedback, and advances recovery.
Two ports were embedded in Thomas’ cranium to establish a connection with a computer. This computer employs advanced AI technology to decipher his mental impulses, subsequently converting these thoughts into tangible actions. The computer then transmits data to electrodes located on both his spinal cord and hand muscles. Additionally, sensors located within his fingers and palm relay sensory information back to his brain. The sophisticated system constructs a conduit that circumvents the impaired segments of Thomas’ spinal cord.
Unlike previous studies which utilised microchips and muscle stimulators for recuperation, this technology negates the necessity for patients to remain tethered to computers and has transcended the confines of the laboratory setting.
Thomas has reportedly already experienced more than a twofold increase in arm strength since joining the clinical trial. He has even reported feeling sensations in his forearm even when the system was not active.
With over 100 million people worldwide grappling with various forms of paralysis or movement challenges, the scientific community is optimistic that technologies such as AI could pave the way for significant improvements in their conditions.
