- Robert Chmielewski became a quadriplegic more than 30 years ago after a surfing accident in his teens
- In 2019, doctors implanted six electrodes within his brain to help him control his robotic prosthetic limbs
- A brain-machine interface has now given him the ability to simultaneously control his robotic arms and perform different tasks
For the first time, a brain-machine interface has allowed a quadriplegic man simultaneous control over his prosthetic limbs. This remarkable feat was accomplished by researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). The team of researchers aimed to combine a brain-computer interface, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI).
We are trying to enable a person with quadriplegia to use a direct neural interface to simultaneously control two assistive devices and, at the same time, feel a touch sensation when the devices make contact with objects in the environment.
Dr. Brock Wester, APL’s principal investigator
Brain Implant Helps Quadriplegic Man
At the age of 16, a surfing accident left Robert ‘Buz’ Chmielewski paralyzed with only minimal movement in his upper limbs. In 2019, after more than 30 years of living with quadriplegia, Robert volunteered for a research program at John Hopkins. There he underwent a one-of-a-kind procedure meant to give him control over robotic prosthetic arms.
In a 10-hour surgery led by Dr. لعبة الدمبلة Stan Anderson, the team of doctors implanted six electrodes on both sides of Robert’s brain. The electrodes were placed in the brain regions responsible for movement and touch. العاب ربح الجوائز حقيقية Moreover, they connected three electrodes to Robert’s right and left arms while the rest took information from the prosthetic fingers to the brain.
Now, almost 2 years after the surgery, Robert is able to simultaneously use both his robotic arms and performs simple tasks such as feeding himself. سباق الخيل
This type of research, known as brain-computer interface [BCI], has, for the most part, focused on only one arm, controlled from only one side of the brain. Thus, being able to control two robotic arms performing a basic activity of daily living—in this case, cutting a pastry and bringing it to the mouth using signals detected from both sides of the brain via implanted electrodes—is a clear step forward to achieve more complex task control directly fed from the brain.
Dr. Pablo Celnik, M.D.
Robots and Machines
The technology allows a portion of the robotic prosthetic arms to be controlled by Artificial intelligence. Thus, allowing Robert to decide what to do and the AI to control the movements necessary for the desired action.
However, currently, the technology relies on Robert seeing his arms while controlling them. Researchers aim to provide additional sensory feedback to users, so there is no need for relying on vision when completing a task. Furthermore, the team wants to expand the number of activities one can perform with the brain-machine interface.
In conclusion, Robert’s recovery provides great hope for patients suffering from partial or complete loss of function in limbs
Source: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
