A 30-year-old man who was paralysed from the neck down has been able to move all four of his limbs using a mind-controlled exoskeleton suit, French researchers have reported. Thibault, who fell 15 metres in a nightclub accident four years ago, said taking his first steps in the suit felt like being the 'first man on the Moon'.
Thibault underwent surgery to place two implants on the surface of his brain, covering the areas that control movement. Each implant contains 64 electrodes that read brain activity and transmit instructions to a nearby computer. Sophisticated software interprets the brainwaves and converts them into commands for the exoskeleton, allowing Thibault to walk and move his arms in three-dimensional space.
Although the 65kg robotic suit is far from perfect and currently requires a ceiling harness to prevent falls, the researchers say it represents a significant advance over previous systems that only allowed control of a single limb. Thibault successfully completed tasks involving moving his arms and rotating his wrists 71% of the time.
Professor Alim-Louis Benabid, president of the Clinatec executive board, described the achievement as 'proof we can extend the mobility of patients in an exoskeleton'. The team now plans to refine the technology, including developing finger control and using more powerful computers to interpret brain signals more quickly.
