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Paralysed man moves in mind-reading exoskeleton | Paralysed man moves in mind-reading exoskeleton |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man has been able to move all four of his paralysed limbs with a mind-controlled exoskeleton suit, French researchers report. | A man has been able to move all four of his paralysed limbs with a mind-controlled exoskeleton suit, French researchers report. |
Thibault, 30, said taking his first steps in the suit felt like being the "first man on the Moon". | Thibault, 30, said taking his first steps in the suit felt like being the "first man on the Moon". |
His movements, particularly walking, are far from perfect and the robo-suit is being used only in the lab. | His movements, particularly walking, are far from perfect and the robo-suit is being used only in the lab. |
But researchers say the approach could one day improve patients' quality of life. | But researchers say the approach could one day improve patients' quality of life. |
How does it work? | How does it work? |
Thibault had surgery to place two implants on the surface of the brain, covering the parts of the brain that control movement | Thibault had surgery to place two implants on the surface of the brain, covering the parts of the brain that control movement |
Sixty-four electrodes on each implant read the brain activity and beam the instructions to a nearby computer | Sixty-four electrodes on each implant read the brain activity and beam the instructions to a nearby computer |
Sophisticated computer software reads the brainwaves and turns them into instructions for controlling the exoskeleton | Sophisticated computer software reads the brainwaves and turns them into instructions for controlling the exoskeleton |
Thibault has to be strapped into the exoskeleton | |
And he can control each of the arms, manoeuvring them in three-dimensional space | And he can control each of the arms, manoeuvring them in three-dimensional space |
How easy was it to use? | How easy was it to use? |
Thibault, who does not want his surname revealed, was an optician before he fell 15m in an incident at a night club four years ago. | Thibault, who does not want his surname revealed, was an optician before he fell 15m in an incident at a night club four years ago. |
The injury to his spinal cord left him paralysed and he spent the next two years in hospital. | The injury to his spinal cord left him paralysed and he spent the next two years in hospital. |
But in 2017, he took part in the exoskeleton trial with Clinatec and the University of Grenoble. | But in 2017, he took part in the exoskeleton trial with Clinatec and the University of Grenoble. |
Initially he practised using the brain implants to control a virtual character, or avatar, in a computer game, then he moved on to walking in the suit. | Initially he practised using the brain implants to control a virtual character, or avatar, in a computer game, then he moved on to walking in the suit. |
"It was like [being the] first man on the Moon. I didn't walk for two years. I forgot what it is to stand, I forgot I was taller than a lot of people in the room," he said. | "It was like [being the] first man on the Moon. I didn't walk for two years. I forgot what it is to stand, I forgot I was taller than a lot of people in the room," he said. |
It took a lot longer to learn how to control the arms. | It took a lot longer to learn how to control the arms. |
"It was very difficult because it is a combination of multiple muscles and movements. This is the most impressive thing I do with the exoskeleton." | "It was very difficult because it is a combination of multiple muscles and movements. This is the most impressive thing I do with the exoskeleton." |
How good is the exoskeleton? | How good is the exoskeleton? |
The 65kg of sophisticated robotics is not completely restoring function. | The 65kg of sophisticated robotics is not completely restoring function. |
However, it is a marked advance on similar approaches that allow people to control a single limb with their thoughts. | However, it is a marked advance on similar approaches that allow people to control a single limb with their thoughts. |
Thibault does need to be attached to a ceiling-harness in order to minimise the risk of him falling over in the exoskeleton - it means the device is not yet ready to move outside the laboratory. | Thibault does need to be attached to a ceiling-harness in order to minimise the risk of him falling over in the exoskeleton - it means the device is not yet ready to move outside the laboratory. |
"This is far from autonomous walking," Prof Alim-Louis Benabid, the president of the Clinatec executive board, told BBC News. | "This is far from autonomous walking," Prof Alim-Louis Benabid, the president of the Clinatec executive board, told BBC News. |
"He does not have the quick and precise movements not to fall, nobody on earth does this." | "He does not have the quick and precise movements not to fall, nobody on earth does this." |
In tasks where Thibault had to touch specific targets by using the exoskeleton to move his upper and lower arms and rotate his wrists, he was successful 71% of the time. | In tasks where Thibault had to touch specific targets by using the exoskeleton to move his upper and lower arms and rotate his wrists, he was successful 71% of the time. |
Prof Benabid, who developed deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease, told the BBC: "We have solved the problem and shown the principle is correct. This is proof we can extend the mobility of patients in an exoskeleton. | Prof Benabid, who developed deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease, told the BBC: "We have solved the problem and shown the principle is correct. This is proof we can extend the mobility of patients in an exoskeleton. |
"This is in [the] direction of giving better quality of life." | "This is in [the] direction of giving better quality of life." |
What is the next step? | What is the next step? |
The French scientists say they can continue to refine the technology. | The French scientists say they can continue to refine the technology. |
At the moment they are limited by the amount of data they can read from the brain, send to a computer, interpret and send to the exoskeleton in real-time. | At the moment they are limited by the amount of data they can read from the brain, send to a computer, interpret and send to the exoskeleton in real-time. |
They have 350 milliseconds to go from thought to movement otherwise the system becomes difficult to control. | They have 350 milliseconds to go from thought to movement otherwise the system becomes difficult to control. |
It means out of the 64 electrodes on each implant, the researchers are using only 32. | It means out of the 64 electrodes on each implant, the researchers are using only 32. |
So there is still the potential to read the brain in more detail using more powerful computers and AI to interpret the information from the brain. | So there is still the potential to read the brain in more detail using more powerful computers and AI to interpret the information from the brain. |
There are also plans to develop finger control to allow Thibault to pick up and move objects. | There are also plans to develop finger control to allow Thibault to pick up and move objects. |
He has already used the implant to control a wheelchair. | He has already used the implant to control a wheelchair. |
Are there more sinister roles for this technology? | Are there more sinister roles for this technology? |
There are scientists investigating ways of using exoskeletons to enhance human abilities, a field known as transhumanism, rather than overcome paralysis. | There are scientists investigating ways of using exoskeletons to enhance human abilities, a field known as transhumanism, rather than overcome paralysis. |
This includes military applications. | This includes military applications. |
"We are absolutely not going in the direction of these extreme and stupid applications," Prof Benabid told the BBC. | "We are absolutely not going in the direction of these extreme and stupid applications," Prof Benabid told the BBC. |
"Our job is to repair the injured patients who have lost function." | "Our job is to repair the injured patients who have lost function." |
What do experts think? | What do experts think? |
Prof Tom Shakespeare, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said while this study presents a "welcome and exciting advance", proof of concept was a long way from usable clinical possibility. | Prof Tom Shakespeare, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said while this study presents a "welcome and exciting advance", proof of concept was a long way from usable clinical possibility. |
"A danger of hype always exists in this field. Cost constraints mean that hi-tech options are never going to be available to most people in the world with spinal cord injury." | "A danger of hype always exists in this field. Cost constraints mean that hi-tech options are never going to be available to most people in the world with spinal cord injury." |
Only 15% of people with disabilities had a wheelchair or other assistive devices, he said. | Only 15% of people with disabilities had a wheelchair or other assistive devices, he said. |
Details of the exoskeleton have been published in The Lancet Neurology journal. | Details of the exoskeleton have been published in The Lancet Neurology journal. |
Follow James on Twitter | Follow James on Twitter |