Under development neuroprosthesis technology to deliver nerve signals directly to muscles from brain

New neuroprosthesis technology from Northwestern Medicine delivers messages from the brain directly to muscles, bypassing the spinal column entirely. The technology is currently undergoing animal testing on monkeys, on which the electrical signals from the brain initiating movement of the extremities is recorded and transmitted externally directly to the intended location. The monkey's brain and muscle neuroelectrical signals were recorded by implanted electrodes in the process of basic motor functions such as grasping a ball, allowing f muscle activity when the monkey wanted to move the ball. The system receives signals from near the end of the neuromuscular process in the brain, from a small number of neurons (~100), and interfaces with a computer that deciphers the signal and creates hand movements. The researchers blocked nerve activity to the elbow with a local anesthetic, and the test subjects were able to complete the same activities nearly as well as before. Because the device recorded the activity necessary for certain movements, the prosthesis is theoretically capable of a wide variety of motion, much more than current prostheses. The technology would allow quadriplegics, who are unable to use current or developmental neuroprosthetics without a connection to any of the spinal cord, which this prosthesis would bypass by receiving directly from the brain.

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