Brain implant could be used in reactivating paralysed limbs

The implant is called the BioBolt and unlike other neural interface technologies that establish a connection from the brain to an external device such as a computer, it’s minimally invasive and low power, said principal investigator Euisik Yoon, a professor in the University of Michigan College of Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Currently, the skull must remain open while neural implants are in the head, which makes using them in a patient’s daily life unrealistic, said Kensall Wise, the William Gould Dow Distinguished University professor emeritus in engineering.

According to a statement, BioBolt does not penetrate the cortex and is completely covered by the skin to reduce risk of infection. Researchers believe it’s a critical step toward allowing a paralysed person to ’think’ a movement.

The ultimate goal is to be able to reactivate paralysed limbs by picking the neural signals from the brain cortex and transmitting those signals directly to muscles, said Wise.