American Ian Burkhart, 24, was paralyzed five years ago following a diving accident. However, owing to new technology is now capable of swiping a credit card and lifting a cup. Doctors have implanted a chip in his brain which allows him to control movements using his thoughts.
The breakthrough technology was first reported in the journal called Nature. Scientists believe the study will offer hope for victims of stroke. The technology is being called nerve bypass technology.
Burkhart is the first individual to be implanted with a chip in his brain that reads his thoughts, Daily Mail reported. The implant is able to decode signals from his nerves to move muscles in his body.
According to the British publication, the technology works on those whose brains are able to still produce nerve signals. Those who can produce nerve signals need only an added support for the messages to reach their limbs, the publication reported.
"We think the sky is the limit," the doctors behind the technology were quoted by the British publication as saying. The implant in Burkhart's brain taps into the cells that control movement in the brain. With the help of a computer, it decodes these signals and sends them to a sleeve which Burkhart wears. The sleeve is studded with electrodes.
The electrodes stimulate muscles in his arm producing the required movement. Researchers believe that similar technology could restore movement to other body parts, the publication reported.
A first-year university student, Burkhart injured his neck while playing in the sea with his friends. Thereafter, he was confined to a wheel-chair and unable to move his arms. He has been dependent on others to help wash, dress and attend to other tasks.
Fortunately, in Burkart's case, his brain has still been able to generate thoughts needed for movement. It is the damage to the spinal cord that has affected the communication between his brain and his muscles, the publication reported.
'We are just at the tip of the iceberg with this type of technology," Researcher Dr. Chad Bouton was quoted by the British publication as saying. Dr. Bouton added this technology would allow those living with paralysis to get back to a certain level of normalcy after injury.
Watch a clip which explains nerve bypass technology: