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Paralyzed since 2020, keith thomas (45) was able to resume movement in the upper part of his body after a procedure in which an implant of Artificial Intelligence (IA) in your brain. The test was carried out in Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research (Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, in free translation), in New York (USA). See more below.
How did Thomas become paralyzed?
Three years ago, keith thomas was the victim of an accident in a swimming pool. At the time, he dived without realizing exactly how deep the water was and ended up seriously injured. That way, Thomas ended up breaking his neck and becoming a quadriplegic. Since then, he has been unable to move from his chest to his lower limbs, as the injury affected two vertebrae in his spine: C4 and C5. They are right in the middle of the set of vertebrae that are part of the cervical spine.
Before being affected by misfortune, Thomas was a professional in the finance business, leading an active life. As he dealt with businesses and several businessmen, he had several commitments. Thus, facing a sudden change in life, in which he had to completely change his routine, was an intense shock:
“As soon as I got home, I wouldn't get out of bed. I only got out of bed once a day for six months. I cried all the time. I cried because I had no independence.”
keith thomas
Your sister, Michelle Bennett, helped Thomas recover. They ended up getting closer and closer after the accident. Bennet says that the moment of recovery did not discourage her and that she continued to believe in recovery, as she saw her brother showing signs of cheer, even if it was little by little.
The financial professional will still go through more processes, until he returns to live with more stability in relation to health. As for recovery, Thomas claims he's in the process of getting "small conquests“, like being able to scratch your face. He hopes to one day be able to wipe away his tears soon.
How did the AI implant in the brain restore Thomas' movement?
Three years after the pool accident, Thomas underwent a procedure at the hospital. Northwell health, Where is the Feinstein Institutes. Earlier, the man received an implant, known as double neural bypass ("double neural shortcut", in free translation), in 2021. The device manages to connect the brain, spinal cord and the rest of the body, regaining mobility and touch.
After going through the initial processes, Thomas had to undergo a 15-hour surgery: the procedure placed five AI electrodes in a chain, which were placed at specific points in his brain. On the organ, equipment was positioned on parts that control the movements and tactile sensation of your right arm. When the electrode test worked, Thomas was able to feel the fingers of his right hand for the first time.
The leader who commanded the entire technological and medical procedure was Feinstein's bioengineer, Chad Bouton. According to the chief, it is the first time that the body, brain and spinal cord have managed to be electronically connected, resuming the movements of a paralyzed person. Also, there was the participation of AI, which worked through programs in electrode terminations. The software in the brain implant then worked with Thomas's thinking, translating the commands his brain gave into actions.
The operation of this entire structure depended on sending signals through the connections of the double neural bypass. That is, thoughts began to create actions, allowing Thomas to move his right hand, which had external electrodes connected to the brain. After a few months, he could feel his pulse and even his arm, even when the equipment was turned off. The patient who participated in the test can even feel his sister's hand, who accompanied him in the process.
"When the study participant thought about moving their arm or hand, we 'supercharged' their spinal cord and stimulated their brain and muscles to regain connections, promoting sensory response and recovery."
Chad Bouton
Advanced research with implants and Artificial Intelligence: see advances in neuroscience
The US is one of the leading countries in the search for AI solutions to improve people's health. In addition to Northwell Health, Neuralink has already been carrying out tests with implants and, in Switzerland, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, or EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne), has also been successful in bridging the gap between a patient's brain and the rest of the body. European researchers managed to get a 40-year-old man to regain movement in his legs.
From studies involving learning to brain skill mapping, neuroscience is receiving important contributions with AI. In other areas, such as diagnosis, artificial intelligence systems will be able to facilitate the creation of neurological treatments, and even in other types of problems, such as patients who have suffered a stroke: the company Rapid AI already looking to work in this field.
Achieving these advances will depend on other technologies associated with AI, such as robotics, computer-brain interaction, wireless connections and even virtual reality. In these fields, the Stanford University it is already preparing to have large investments in neuroscience and AI technology: one of its research is already in the direction of recovering speech in patients suffering from paralysis, using systems of this type.
Keith Thomas resumes movements thanks to AI implant: watch the video
Nice to see technology acting in favor of health, right? Even more so with Artificial Intelligence. Tell us what you think of this achievement, here at showmetech!
See also:
Source: reverse | decrypt | CBS News | Health Europe | Artificial Intelligence in Medicine | Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute (Stanford University)
reviewed by Glaucon Vital in 4 / 8 / 23.
