ALS Implant Allows Brain Computer Control

10/16/2006


Stephen Heywood, bother of ALS TDF Founder Jamie Heywood has enrolled in a clinical trial by Cyberkinetics to test the safety and capability of a neural implant to allow communication and computer control by recording directly from the motor cortex.

Stephen, who has had ALS for nearly eight years, is the first ALS patient to use the system. Developed by Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems, Inc., BrainGate’s Neural Interface System consists of a tiny sensor (the size of a baby aspirin) implanted on the surface of the motor cortex. This implant directly records the spikes and signals from the surrounding neurons. Stephen is literally plugged in through a pedestal with 96 channels mounted on his head. The system then converts the electrical signals first to spikes, the language of neurons, and then through a decoding algorithm into motion and actions.

The chip is mounted in the part of the brain that controls his right arm. Stephen trains the system by imagining movements as if he were moving his hand and arm. The system learns which neurons are involved in each imagined motion and translates his imagined actions into movements of a computer cursor. This has even allowed him to play simple games.






Left: Stephen Heywood and the Implant Pedestal

Above: The implant shown for size next to a penny

http://www.patientslikeme.com/forum/...view=last#2138




"BrainGate is truly magical technology. It has the potential for perfect Bionic limbs, direct communication from the brain. Right now I could easily control my wheelchair, a robot arm, any RC toy. I would give anything to play video games with my son."
-Stephen Heywood


Though this is a very early trial and there is significant development work to be done on all parts of the system before it could be considered a product, it is showing sufficient promise that development of practical applications is starting. Stephen Heywood and his brother Jamie, along with Øystein Johnsen, founder of RollTalk of Norway that makes integrated control systems for the disabled, rebuilt the control system of Stephen’s wheelchair so that it can be operated by computer. If the trial allows it Stephen is looking forward to moving his chair simply by using his thoughts.


More Information:

Video showing how the Braingate system works: Cyberkinetics Inc

Rolltalk - Hardware and software automation for the disabled