The first bionic leg controlled by the brain
Researchers have created an interface that directly connects the prosthesis to the patient’s nervous system
A landmark for rehabilitation medicine. Research by a group of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in collaboration with the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, The first bionic leg controlled exclusively by the brain.
How does the new prosthesis work?
The key to this innovation lies in a sophisticated interface that connects directly the prosthesis to the patient’s nervous system. The researchers were able to restore communication between the muscles of the stump and the brain allowing intuitive and natural control of the artificial limb. ” No one has been able to show this level of brain control that produces a natural gait,’ says Hugh Herr, the study coordinator and prosthetic user himself. ‘ It is the human nervous system that controls movement, not a robotic control algorithm.”
The advantages of the new prosthesis
The patients who participated in the trial showed that they could move the prosthesis with a fluidity and precision never achieved before. Thanks to this new technology, it is possible:
- Walk more naturally and faster: Patients showed a walking speed comparable to that of a healthy person, Overcoming obstacles and adapting to different terrains with ease
- Increase quality of life: The possibility to move more freely and naturally reduces significantly the limits imposed by amputation, improving the quality of life of patients
- Reduce pain and muscle atrophy: The surgery used to attach the prosthesis to the nervous system helps to reduce pain and muscle atrophy, often associated with amputation.
A future with new prospects
“This work represents a further step in demonstrating what can be done to restore function in patients suffering from serious limb injuries.” says Matthew Carty, surgeon at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. This is an extraordinary discovery that opens new perspectives for the treatment of amputations. In the future, it may become possible to develop more and more sophisticated and personalized prostheses, The European Commission has published a study on the impact of the EU’s energy saving policy on the environment. A historic milestone that opens the way to an increasingly inclusive and accessible future for all.