Keith Thomas, a man paralyzed from the chest down, has regained hand movement through a groundbreaking medical study involving brain implants conducted by Northwell Health. The surgery involved implanting five small chips into his brain, a procedure known as a double neuro bypass. These chips send and interpret signals between his brain, damaged spinal cord, and hands, creating some movement. This medical breakthrough could provide hope for others with similar injuries, moving science closer to overcoming paralysis.
David Begnaud,Analisa Novak reported

Paralyzed man regains hand movement through innovative brain implant study

Keith Thomas regains control over hands

Keith Thomas, a man who was left paralyzed from the chest down following a tragic swimming pool accident, has made a significant recovery with the help of a revolutionary medical study involving brain implants. A victim of paralysis, Thomas managed to regain some control over his hands due to this groundbreaking research.

Process of medical study and surgery

The medical study, led by Northwell Health, involved a surgical procedure where Thomas had five tiny chips implanted into his brain. This method, known as a double neuro bypass, works by transmitting and decoding signals between his brain, the impaired spinal cord, and his hands, thereby enabling some degree of movement.

Electrical patterns stimulating damaged circuits

“We are essentially sending out highly intense, though brief, electrical patterns that stimulate the damaged circuits within his spinal cord. We believe this is starting to bolster those connections. As the saying goes, neurons that fire together, wire together,” explained Chad Bouton, an engineer and the head of the Neural Bypass Lab in New York.

Significant milestone for Thomas

For Thomas, who became paralyzed from the chest down at 42 after misjudging a swimming pool’s depth and suffering a neck-breaking dive, feeling anything at all is a significant achievement. His accident led to a life-altering condition that took away his ability to move independently.

Struggling with the new reality and hope for the future

After his accident, adjusting to his new reality was challenging for Thomas. He spent the first six months mostly in bed, mourning the loss of his independence. However, with the constant support from his sister, Michelle Bennett, and his innate sense of humor, Thomas was able to face his circumstances. He still has a long journey to full recovery, but he is celebrating small victories, like being able to scratch his face, and aspires to regain enough control to wipe his own tears in the future.

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