The new technology involved was developed in a joint project by Caltech, Keck Medicine of USC and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Sorto has exceeded every expectation during tests. He gradually learned to perform more tasks. The team of researchers implanted the neural chips needed to control the arm into a part of the brain called “posterior parietal cortex”. This was different, related to other similar projects, with better results. In order to control the arm, the patient has to think of what he intends to do. The technique must be refined. Many applications will be to help patients with a variety of neurological and spinal chord injuries and diseases. For the instant, Andersen’s group has implanted chips in two more patients.
