A team of neuroscientists have developed the Endovascular Motor Neuroprosthesis System, designed to improve the lives of people with limited mobility.

A device with 16 sensors was successfully implanted inside the brains of two participants with upper limb paralysis caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The international neurosurgeon team connected the device from the superior sagittal sinus in the brain, through the internal jugular vein, to an internal telemetry unit (ITU) implanted within the patient's chest. An external telemetry unit (ETU), placed externally on the patient's chest, receives signals from the brain via infrared light transmission, and transmits these signals wirelessly to a tablet computer via decoding software on Windows 10.  

The participants were trained how to control mouse functions using an eye tracker and make selections with the motor neuroprosthesis, for example, typing words and magnifying the screen. As a result, they experienced greater independence by performing every day tasks like online shopping, banking and smart device communication, such as emailing, browsing and texting.

Learn more about this life changing technology in Motor neuroprosthesis implanted with neurointerventional surgery improves capacity for activities of daily living tasks in severe paralysis: first in-human experience published by Neurointerventional Surgery.