Matt Kidd, the first patient in a University of Washington safety trial, can now perform daily tasks thanks to a device that stimulates neurons.
SEATTLE — A stroke froze an Auburn man’s left side until an experimental brain implant helped him regain significant fine-motor control.
Matt Kidd, the first patient to enroll in a University of Washington safety trial, can now perform daily tasks thanks to the device that stimulates neurons with electrical impulses during rehabilitation sessions, according to researchers at the University of Washington.
"It’s very quick when it happens, and it’s just like night and day. You wake up the next day and your normal life is gone," Kidd said, describing the moment his stroke struck more than four years ago.
The stroke robbed Kidd of his abili…
Matt Kidd, the first patient in a University of Washington safety trial, can now perform daily tasks thanks to a device that stimulates neurons.
SEATTLE — A stroke froze an Auburn man’s left side until an experimental brain implant helped him regain significant fine-motor control.
Matt Kidd, the first patient to enroll in a University of Washington safety trial, can now perform daily tasks thanks to the device that stimulates neurons with electrical impulses during rehabilitation sessions, according to researchers at the University of Washington.
"It’s very quick when it happens, and it’s just like night and day. You wake up the next day and your normal life is gone," Kidd said, describing the moment his stroke struck more than four years ago.
The stroke robbed Kidd of his ability to use his left arm, and traditional rehabilitation helped only to a limited degree.
"I pretty much had given up on my arm at that point. I would walk around and drag it with me," he said.
When Kidd asked his doctor about alternative treatment options, he learned about the University of Washington study and enrolled right away.
"A month later, we signed the waivers, talked to some doctors, and I didn’t have any hesitation on it," he said.
UW surgeons implanted the first-of-its-kind device on Kidd’s brain.
"It’s just amazing that he cut my head open, put a device on my brain, connected it to a wire – to a computer, and got things to work that don’t work," Kidd said.
The clinical trial combines traditional physical therapy with cutting-edge neuroscience. When Kidd first arrived for treatment in July, he moved minimally.
"He didn’t have much control of his thumb, or the ability to move a lot of his fingers," said Jeffrey Herron, an associate professor in neurological surgery at the University of Washington.
Herron holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and explained that his role involves building the technology and systems to operate the clinical study.
"We’re stimulating the parts of the brain that control Matt’s left arm to enhance that rehabilitation process," he said.
Kidd acknowledges his recovery has limits.
"I’ll never be normal, but I can do a lot of tasks that I couldn’t do before this study," he said. "Harborview has literally brought me back from the dead."