Thanks to a ground-breaking procedure utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), a Long Island man who was paralyzed in a diving accident has achieved medical "miracle" status. Keith Thomas, 45, underwent surgery to connect a computer to his brain using microelectrode implants, and as a result, he was able to move and feel his body again. It is being hailed as a groundbreaking case by experts at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, New York, which may open the way for utilizing AI to treat a variety of diseases.
Thomas became paralyzed from the neck down three years ago after plunging into a pool and breaking his neck and some of his spine. Thomas refused to lose hope despite being initially told he might never move again below the neck.
Dr. Ashesh Mehta, the head of the Institute's Laboratory for Human Brain Mapping, said Thomas was a perfect candidate for the innovative procedure because of his optimism and tenacity. Thomas had to be awake at times during the demanding 15-hour procedure in order to converse with the doctors. Thomas kept his sense of humor throughout it all and cracked jokes while the surgery was being done.
Thomas was able to regain motion and grip his sister's hand for the first time since the accident thanks to the surgery's extraordinary success. His brain was wired to AI-powered implants that gave him new opportunities and a taste of independence. Thomas' journey serves as a tribute to the amazing strides that AI and medical research have made.
In Thomas's situation, the AI-powered brain implant opens up new avenues for medical research. Multiple sclerosis (MS) and movement impairments are just two examples of illnesses that can be significantly impacted by plasticity, a crucial idea in the brain's capacity to adapt and remodel itself. Scientists expect that artificial intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge neurotechnology can help people with impairments regain their lost abilities and enhance their quality of life.
