Watch Live: Congressional Hearing on IRS Scandal

Live BlazeCast at 2pm ET: All the fireworks from the IRS Hearing!

Health

Paralyzed Woman Feeds Herself for the First Time in 13 Years…Using Mind Control!

Dec. 17, 2012 2:17pm Liz Klimas

Jan Scheuermann hasn’t been able to feed herself for 13 years after being diagnosed with a degenerative brain disorder, which left her paralyzed from the neck down. But thanks to breakthrough robot technology using mind-control, she’s not only fed herself a bite of chocolate but, according to Reuters, has done so with a fluid motion that hasn’t been seen in such technology before.

University of Pittsburg Robot Mind Control Helps Paralyzed Woman Feed Herself

Jan Scheuermann uses her mind to control a robotic arm and feed herself chocolate. (Photo: UPMC)

Earlier this year, TheBlaze reported on similar technology that allowed a paralyzed women feed herself a sip of coffee.

In Scheuermann’s case, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center researchers planted two 96-channel intracortical microelectrodes in her brain, according to the study published in the medical journal The Lancet. The 53-year-old woman after only two days of training could move the arm and after 13 weeks she was able to perform more complex tasks.

“The participant was also able to use the prosthetic limb to do skillful and coordinated reach and grasp movements that resulted in clinically significant gains in tests of upper limb function. No adverse events were reported,” the researchers stated in the study.

Watch this University of Pittsburg video with Scheuermann talking about her experience:

“This is the ride of my life,” Scheuermann said in the university press release. “This is the rollercoaster. This is skydiving. It’s just fabulous, and I’m enjoying every second of it.”

BBC has more from the researchers about the study’s success:

[Professor Andrew Schwartz from the University of Pittsburgh] told the BBC that movements this good had not been achieved before.

“They’re fluid and they’re way better, I don’t know how to say it any other way, they’re way better than anything that’s been demonstrated before.

“I think it really is convincing evidence that this technology is going to be therapeutic for spinal cord injured people.

“They are doing tasks already that would be beneficial in their daily lives and I think that’s fairly conclusive at this point.”

The next steps for the research, according to UPMC, is to try to use the electrodes to stimulate the brain to create a sensation, or feeling ,which would allow the user to adjust their level of grip with the robot. The ultimate goal is to have a wireless system fully implanted so patients could use it at home without specialized supervision. The researchers also said the robot could be replaced eventually if the electrodes could be used to stimulate the patients own limb to move.

Augmenting one’s body with technology though, raises some ethical questions. In its article, Reuters reported University of West Scotland professor Andy Miah, who has written on the ethics of human enhancement, saying he considers these types of technological therapies a “back door” to “technological interventions.”

“People will question whether this is desirable, but we already live in a society that tolerates such modifications,” Miah said.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (17)

Deane
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:45am
Nice heartwarming story but this kind of technology won’t be available when obamacare is fully implemented due to the medical manufacturing tax confiscation and the life-years philosophy from Cass Sunstein

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
The Giver
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 11:38pm
This is great! What woman doesn’t want chocolate!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
rickc34
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 10:04pm
Just think of it, parapalegics walking again on day.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Speed Racer
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 9:48pm
This is definitely really cool, and it’s great for that woman. On another note though, does this remind anyone else of Doctor Octopus from the second Spiderman movie?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Maxim Crux
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 7:01pm
Mind control out…mind control in. It works both ways and often without knowing.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
ICANHANDLETHETRUTH
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 6:55pm
Hmmmm sounds to good to be true !!! I wonder what else they might use it for ????

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
JACKTHETOAD
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 4:02pm
Finally, something good done with technology. I’m happy for her, too. Merry Christmas, Jan. You can wave back now. :)

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
JinOH
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 3:33pm
What a great story after so much bad news lately.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
randy
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 2:56pm
Betcha Obamacare will not pay for it though.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Diane TX
  Posted on December 17, 2012 at 3:00pm
  I agree that Obama Care won’t pay for it, although it’s wonderful for her frame of mind.
  
  Report this comment
- randy
  Posted on December 17, 2012 at 3:16pm
  I agree Diane,
  
  I’m so happy for her…….
  
  Report this comment
- QuincySmith
  Posted on December 17, 2012 at 3:30pm
  Randy;
  
  oblama will not always be dictator-in-chief. As I watched the video I thought why does medical science continue with these experiments (oblamacare will not authorize these kinds of operations). Then I had the less than reassuring thought: they will do it for the elites. That didn’t help my world view. Then I realized that oblama and his pals will be swept away, we will regain our freedoms, and these kinds of medical advances will be used to ease suffering and loss, not put into some Emanuel spreadsheet to determine if, in this case, Jan’s life is worth expending ‘precious’ funds to improve her ‘productivity’. It will take some time, but it will get better.
  
  Report this comment
busterpuddles
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 2:47pm
Amazing. What scary things does the future hold for us using this device?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- bertr
  Posted on December 17, 2012 at 6:38pm
  Im very excited about this, but i share your fear a bit. On the positive note this not only improves quality of life tremendously for the disabled, on the flip side they want to have a wireless solution eventually. I assume this means no implant, will that technology work both ways? Scary stuff concerning manipulation of the motor cortex, and it only worries one more thinking beyond that.
  It’s going to happen though, Ned Ludd couldnt stop it and neither can we, just have to stand back and watch what happens to some degree
  
  Report this comment
term limits for congress
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 2:43pm
That looks like an awfully expensive medical device. Hope she can afford the taxes on it.

I think it is ethical. Darth Vader went to the dark side, but not everyone will do that. Oh,… forgot about The Borg. Six Million Dollar Man was good. I guess we will wait and see.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
macpappy
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 2:33pm
Wonderful.
The beginning of something very big here.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
ProgressiveDeist267
Posted on December 17, 2012 at 2:32pm
This is why I love science. Jan, who has been unable to feed herself. Now has the help with modern robotics. Awesome!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.