Brain Implant Restores 86% Arm Strength in Paralyzed Man, Returning Touch After 2 Years
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 16
Brain Implant Restores 86% Arm Strength in Paralyzed Man, Returning Touch After 2 Years
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 16
Summary
35 weeks of training let Keith Thomas, paralyzed from the chest down since a 2020 diving accident, feed himself, drink from a cup and lift his hands to his face.
A “double neural bypass” decoded movement signals from electrodes implanted in his brain, routed them to his arms and hands, and sent pressure signals back to recreate touch.
86% strength gains in his right arm and 62% in his left were reported in Nature Medicine, with the system allowing him to handle delicate objects such as eggshells.
25 weeks of added therapy restored touch to part of his right wrist that had been numb since the accident, and researchers said some movement and sensation persisted even when the system was off.
More than two years later, those gains were still present, though researchers said larger trials are needed to test how much function the approach can restore across different spinal cord injuries.
Beyond movement, what is the next frontier for brain implants in restoring complex functions like organ control?
Could brain implants one day make themselves obsolete by permanently repairing the nervous system?
Now that China has a commercial brain implant, how will the US accelerate its own regulatory approvals?
From Paralysis to Possibility: How Double Neural Bypass Restored Sensation and Movement in Keith Thomas
Overview
Keith Thomas, who lost almost all movement and sensation below his neck after a severe spinal cord injury from a 2020 diving accident, could not feel or return affection to his dog, Bow. As of July 2026, groundbreaking news reports that a new 'double neural bypass' system has enabled the restoration of both movement and sensation for people with similar injuries. This innovative technology marks a major step forward, offering hope for functional recovery and a better quality of life for those living with paralysis, and highlights the potential for future advances in neuro-rehabilitation.