Restoring Functional Reach-to-Grasp in a Person with Chronic Tetraplegia Using Implanted Functional Electrical Stimulation and Intracortical Brain-Computer Interfaces

Abstract

This study demonstrates volitional arm and hand motions restored to a person living with complete tetraplegia due to high cervical spinal cord injury. Selective intramuscular functional electrical stimulation (FES) of paralyzed muscles throughout the upper extremity powered multiple reaching and grasping movements. An intracortical brain computer interface (iBCI) recorded neural signals from the participant’s contralateral motor cortex, extracted movement intentions from these signals, and commanded FES patterns to generate these intended movements. As a result of the combined technological approach, the participant could volitionally reach, grasp, and drink from a cup, demonstrating the feasibility of this FES + iBCI system to restore cortically-controlled functional arm and hand movements in persons with extensive paralysis.