Control Prosthetic Limbs with the Brain

Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh created a prosthetic arm that is controlled with tiny probes inside the brain. The device with a Brain to Machine Interface (BMI) has been successfully tested with a robotic arm.

Dr. Andrew Schwartz from the Pittsburgh University shared his experiences with the mechanical arm at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which took place this year in Washington D.C. The adaptive device can be controlled by brain interfaces and consists of a mobile shoulder, elbow and a hand like gripper.

This futuristic assistive technology device has been tested with brain connectivity on monkeys that proved the ability to control the mechanical arm. “The monkeys in the experiment were able to grasp and hold food with the robotic arm while their real arms were restrained,” according to Dr. Schwartz.

Human tests have shown that people have corresponding brain signals and can have benefit greatly from the artificial limb. The probes implanted in the motor cortex in the brain move the arm just like a normal arm would. “We can use the population vector to accurately predict the velocity and direction of normal arm movement,” said Dr. Schwartz. Some problems, such as the duration of the probe signals, need to be fixed before human trails can begin, but Dr. Schwartz thinks human trial can start within the next four years.

Source: BBC News