Study: Brain implant lets paralyzed man regain use of hand

By MALCOLM RITTER
NEW YORK (AP) — A 24-year-old man paralyzed by a spinal cord injury has regained some use of his right hand, controlling it with signals relayed from electronic sensors in his brain.
In a study released in April by the journal Nature, researchers say Ian Burkhart of Dublin, Ohio, can grasp a bottle, pour its contents into a jar, pick up a stick and stir the liquid. He can grab a credit card and swipe it through a reader. He can also move individual fingers.
Signals from the brain implant are interpreted by a computer, which then stimulates the man's hand muscles by using electrodes strapped to his forearm. Researchers say they hope that someday, an improved version of the system may also help people with traumatic brain injury or stroke.