Can brainwaves and a robot arm help treat a stroke?
STORY: Oswald Reedus is controlling this robotic arm through a headset reading his brainwaves.
The 68-year-old suffered a stroke back in 2014. It paralyzed him on his left side and he couldn't speak.
After years of therapy he can talk again, but his motor skills are limited.
"I can't go into my backyard without my brace on. And I can't do anything like normal men do. Like changing the air filter in my AC unit. Standing on a ladder. I can’t do anything, any of that anymore.”
Now he's hoping this technology will help him recover the use of his arm, and the University of Houston says he's the first person in the world to make use of what might become a novel medical device at home.
The device, from the University of Houston and TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital in Texas, is undergoing clinical trials.
It works like this: when the headset detects that Reedus wants to move his arm, it moves the robotic limb - but not entirely. He still needs to make an effort with his own arm to complete the motion. Repetition is key.
The headset's designers say those calls and responses between the brain, the body, and robotic movement help rewire a stroke victim's brain to gradually regain control of their limb in a process called neuroplasticity.
Doctor Gerard Francisco is the clinical lead:
"Therapy is still the most important way that we can help people recover from a stroke. Exercise, repetition."
"Robots will provide a repetitive, predictable movement. Robots will not get tired, so that it can provide the necessary amount of repetitions because we know that certain amount of repetition is required in order for us to rewire that part of the brain that is responsible for movement.”
Since Reedus' mother and brother also died from strokes, he was eager to help its designers.
"Anything that will help a person like me, I think is a godsend. People - if they can, they can get the price down or, and if the insurance companies will say yes instead of no, it will help a lot of people."
