Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

One Giant Bite

VIDEO: Quadriplegic woman powers a robotic arm with her mind

Jan Scheuermann developed a degenerative condition that left her virtually paralysed – unable to move an arm for a decade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76lIQtE8oDY

(YouTube: upmc)

THESE ARE the moments where a quadriplegic woman who had not moved a limb for ten years was able to control a robotic arm and feed herself a piece of chocolate – - using only her mind.

Jan Scheuermann had been a perfectly healthy woman until developing a degenerative condition that slowly removed her ability to move her limbs, eventually leaving her virtually paralysed.

After seeing TV coverage of a successful trial for a robotic prosthesis, Jan volunteered for an experimental course of research – having electrodes fitted to record her neural signals as she sent commands to her non-functional limbs.

The brainwaves are now fed to a robotic prosthesis, which can combine seven different physical motions – all triggered by its user’s mind – to give Jan a new lease of life.

Read: Explainer: How the prosthetic ‘blades’ of Paralympic athletes work

Your Voice
Readers Comments
7
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.