University of Pittsburgh to Test Brain Implants in Paralyzed Patients
From: Qmed - 02/17/2011
By: Mark Roth

The University of Pittsburgh will become one of the few places in the world
to test brain implants in paralyzed patients in hopes of training them to
move prosthetic arms with their thoughts. 

The experimental work, involving two different kinds of electrode implants in
the brain, is designed to interpret patients' brain signals, route them
through a computer, and then control the movement of a prosthetic arm and
hand, with a movable wrist and fingers. 

If the research is successful, it could lead to implants that would allow
patients to stimulate and control their own paralyzed arms, said Michael
Boninger, director of the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute and a senior
scientist on both projects. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.qmed.com/news/29986/pitt-test-brain-implants-paralyzed-patients

Links:
Michael Boninger
http://www.rehabmedicine.pitt.edu/content.asp?id=784
http://www.mirm.pitt.edu/people/bios/Boninger1.asp
http://www.cmu.edu/qolt/People/researchers/boninger-michael.html

UPMC Rehabilitation Institute
http://www.upmc.com/services/irr/Pages/default.aspx

Andrew Schwartz
http://www.neurobio.pitt.edu/faculty/schwartz.htm
http://motorlab.neurobio.pitt.edu/people.php?name=andy