Paralyzed man regains hand and arm control with ‘double neural bypass’ surgery

New York: A man paralyzed from the chest down is regaining movement and sensation in his hands and arms after undergoing a pioneering “double neural bypass” surgery that connects his brain directly to his limbs using a computer.

Keith Thomas, from Massapequa, New York, suffered a neck injury in the summer of 2020 after diving into a swimming pool. The accident left him unable to move his arms. Three months later, he was contacted by the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research to join a 3-year trial for the new procedure.

The technology uses electrodes implanted in Thomas’ brain to detect when he wants to move. Those signals are routed to his arms and hands to enable movement. The “double” part comes from sensors embedded in his fingers that detect objects and send touch information back to the brain through the same brain electrodes.

As a result, Thomas can now not only move his arms and hands, but also feel touch — like the fur of his dog or his sister’s hand — and adjust grip strength. The system helps him tell the difference between holding a ball, a coffee cup, or an egg.

After 35 weeks of training, doctors reported significant gains. Strength increased by 86% in his right arm and 62% in his left. His range of motion also improved. Tasks he couldn’t do before, like lifting his hand above his neck, scratching his nose, or wiping his mouth, are now possible.

“For years, we have wanted to restore both movement and the sense of touch together, and create lasting effects,” said Professor Chad Bouton, who leads the team at Feinstein. “I think we’ll continue to see progress, and that it will be applicable to the millions of people around the world who need this technology.”

Researchers say it’s still unclear how much more function Thomas will regain with continued training.

The breakthrough adds to a growing field of research aimed at reversing paralysis, offering new hope for patients in the US and abroad.