The neuroprosthetic technology is named NeuroLife.
By Sreekanth A. Nair
A group of researchers headed by an Indian American scientist has developed a technology that helps paralyzed patients move their body parts.
The technology developed by the team of Indian scientist Gaurav Sharma has been successfully tested on Ian Burkhart, 24, an American whose body got paralyzed below his chest in an accident five years ago.
The research team at the Battelle Memorial Institute in Ohio developed a computer chip and implanted the same into Burkhart’s body surgically. The chip helps to send brain signals from the brain to limbs without the help of spinal cord.
The chip embedded with algorithm decodes the signals of the brain when he starts thinking about moving his hands and sends it to the hands directly. With the help of the chip, Burkhart is now able to move his hands and wrists.
“As Ian thinks about moving his hand, the chip records his brain signals and our algorithms decode his intent. The signals are then routed as electrical pulses to a sleeve wrapped around Ian’s arm that stimulates the muscles to enable the desired hand movement in real-time. The study shows what is possible in the future, and can offer hope for movement restoration to millions of people worldwide living with paralysis,” Gaurav Sharma told The Times of India.
The neuroprosthetic technology is named NeuroLife. It was developed in a clinical study in collaboration with the Ohio State University (OSU).
“Before my accident, I had taken it for granted that I could have so much control over my hand. So while training for this project, I had to break down my thought processes to help the computer learn. The most mentally exhausting part was blocking out everything else in my brain and focusing on just that one movement,” Burkhart said in the interview.
“The work we’re doing is part of a bigger problem that could benefit a lot of other people. Much more work still needs to be done by many more people in order to solve this problem of regaining movement, but I’m a piece of this puzzle, and I’m glad to be a part of it,” he added.
Hailing from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Sharma, 38, holds a degree from NIT Surathkal and a masters and Ph.D. in the US.
9 Comments
I need contact no of Gaurav Sharma ji
Dear sir please contact us my mom have paralysis since last 4 years so please help us we have from india contact me anytime 9977733853
Javed22m@gmail.com
Respected Sir,
My wife is suffering a huge back pain since last 20 years.In this connection in 2004 the operation was also been carried out, but the result was not fruitful.We have also choose so many option for the remedy.Every time we are in hope that some new innovation in science may help and cure/relief from the unbarrable pain lying in the bed.
In this connection please help me as a goodwill gesture, so my wife can live as a normal live with your kind help.
Please provide me the contact details of Shri Gaurav Sharma residing in Meerut,India who is researcher in American Bantley Memorial Institute of commuter cheap is to be installed in the body of the sufferer.
Regards.
(Ajay Patel.)
(M) +91 9428330377
Best research.So I want to use this chip on my patient whose are suffering from paralysis.
Reply please its important for my mom
Please
I want to help for my mummy becouse my mummy is searved this problems so please help my mummy problems contact me 9977733853
after spinal surgery Slight sensation present in both leg but unable to move.give me suggestions
sir plz hlp my bro to recover his dieses of paralise.he cant walk all function are disorder from 5yrs.every thing is ok in brain but he is unable to walk and urine