New Device Allows Brain to Bypass Spinal Cord

Описание: COLUMBUS (Lu Ann Stoia/Sean Rowe) -- It sounds more like something from a new science fiction movie. But technology is allowing a 23-year old Dublin quadriplegic man to move his hand.

For the first time, Ian Burkhart can move his fingers and hand with his own thoughts because of an electronic neural bypass for reconnects his brain directly to his muscles. Burkhart is the first of a potential five participants in a clinical study.

"It's much like a heart bypass, but instead of bypassing blood, we are actually bypassing electrical signals," said Chad Bouton, research leader at Battelle. "We're taking those signals from the brain, going around the injury, and actually going directly to the muscles."

Burhart had brain surgery a couple months ago with surgeons from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Battelle, a Columbus based non-profit research center A microchip was connected to a port screwed into Burkhart's skull.

Burkhart was paralyzed four years ago during a freak swimming accident while on a vacation trip to the beach. Burkhart was an Ohio University student and lacross player when his life changed in 2010.

"Initially it piqued my interest because I like science,and it's pretty interesting," said Burkhart. "I've realized , this is the way it is, you're going to have to make the best of it. You can sit and complain about it, but that's not going to help you at all, so , you might as well work hard, do what you can and keep going on with life."

Photo Caption: Ian Burkhart gets check-up with his OSU Wexner Medical Center doctor.