Chips in aid of Paraplegics

A paralysed man has regained the use of his limbs by a series of operations in which the doctors replaced his damaged nerves with electrodes and a computer chip.

This breakthrough brings hope to hundreds and thousands of paraplegics the world over. This operation was carried out in France. Similar operations are planned in Britain.

Mark Merger, 39,a financial consultant,a Frenchman is the first person on whome this operation was performed. He was able to standup and hug his wife for the first time in more than 10 years. He was confined to wheel chair a dacade ago after he met with a car accident. A keen sportsman, he had kept himself fit all this time. This factor was most important in his selection for this operation.

During the final 10 hour operation the surgeons implanted 15 electrodes on nerves and muscles in his legs and pelvis and connected them via fine wires to a computer chip inserted in his abdomen.

Merger communicates with the chip by pressing buttons on a walking stick that acts as a remote control. The stick sends radio signals to the computer chip which converts them to muscle impulses and transmits them to the legs through the implanted wires.