Robotic Arm Used by Longstanding Tetraplegics

Employing a 96-channel microelectrode array implanted in the motor cortex of tetraplegics, without rigorous training , two patients were able to control a robotic arm over a broad space performing reach and grasp movements . One patient was even able to drink coffee ! This neural interface system-based control transmitted signals from a small population of cerebral cortical motor neurons to manipulate the robotic arm. This study shows that years after injury to the CNS that such a system may be employed to recreate useful multidimensional control of complex devices directly from a small sample of neural signals.

Nature may 16,2012