Restoring High Dimensional Hand Function to Persons With Chronic High Tetraplegia

About this trial

This trial is enrolling individuals with chronic cervical (neck area) spinal cord injuries who already have a recording electrode array (BrainGate) implanted in their brain. This study will investigate using the device to enable grasping movements. Brain activity will be measured when participants think about grasping. This information will be decoded to a computer connected to a functional electrical stimulation (FES) system. FES uses small electrodes implanted in the arm, shoulder, and hand to send small electrical currents to cause contraction of weakened or paralyzed muscles. The main goal is to match the precise brain signals to the actual grasping behavior performed with FES in order to promote voluntary hand movements. Participants will be asked to either control their hand in the real word, or within a computer generated experience (virtual reality) through head-mounted displays.