About Rennaker

Individuals with damaged connections between the brain and body as a result of neurological injury or disease may have new hope in the form of a computerized neural interface being developed at the University of Oklahoma.

Rob Rennaker, OU assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has developed a brain interface device that, with the help of a computer, would create a link between the external world and the brain for individuals with motor deficits resulting from central nervous system injury or disease. A patent on the device is pending.

By implanting an array of miniature electrodes beneath the skull that monitor brain activity and transmit that activity via a radio signal, a connection can be established between the brain and an external computer. This connection could potentially allow individuals with spinal cord injuries or other central nervous system disorders to control external devices by thought. Being able to control such external devices as a wheelchair or prosthetic arm could significantly increase the quality of life for those with profound neurological disorders.