Doctors and researchers watch intently as Ian Burkhart, 23, of Dublin, Ohio, becomes the first patient to move his paralyzed hand using groundbreaking technology called Neurobridge. A sensor chip implanted in Burkhart`s brain reads his thoughts, processes them, then sends the right commands to a simple and wearable high-tech sleeve allowing him to move his hand and fingers. The software that interprets Burkhart`s brain activity and the special sleeve were developed by researchers at Battelle, who worked side-by-side with doctors at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to test it with Burkhart.
This photo captures the moment a paralyzed man moved his hand for the first time using his own thoughts. Neurobridge technology uses a specialized sleeve on the forearm to communicate with a chip implanted in a patient`s brain.
Ian Burkhart shares a smile with Chad Bouton, research leader from Battelle. Bouton and his team at Battelle pioneered the Neurobridge technology, working closely with doctors from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, which allowed Burkhart to become the first patient ever to move his paralyzed hand with his own thoughts.
Doctors from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and researchers from Battelle gather around Burkhart.
Chad Bouton, center, research leader from Battelle, watches as Dr. Ali Rezai, right, implants a tiny chip into the brain of a patient at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Read: Device Allows Brain to Bypass Spinal Cord, Move Paralyzed Limbs