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Doctor Deanna Lites reporting Imagine trying to tie your shoelaces with just one hand. For many patients who suffer a stroke, only being able to use one side of the body is a reality.
But now doctors are helping those patients regain what they've lost in a high tech way.
Charlie Curran/ Stroke Patient: "I went to stand up and I fell on the floor."
Three months ago, 59-year-old Charlie Curran suffered a stroke.
Dr. Douglas Katz/ Neurologist: "Stroke is damage to the brain that is caused usually by a lack of circulation to an artery that feeds brain tissue."
Charlie Curran/ Stroke Patient: "I had stroke in the right side of my brain that affected the left half of my body. I couldn't move my hand at all."
Charlie has been working with occupational therapists to strengthen the weakness caused by the stroke.
Charlie Curran/ Stroke Patient: "Oh very frustrating, and you lose all independence completely"
Meline Nichols/ Occupational Therapist: "What they find is that the earlier you start to move the affected side of the body, the more speedy recovery is going to become."
And along with his regular therapy, he uses this new device called the "Ness h-200." it fits over his hand and forearm. Inside it are electrodes. The device sends out electrical charges to help stimulate the muscles.
Charlie Curran/ Stroke Patient: "You can feel an electric impulse and then all of the sudden your hand will either open or close."
For Charlie, those pulses help him to grasp the barrel with his hand, and Then release it.
Meline Nichols/ Occupational Therapist: "They activate the muscles that help to control finger extension and flexion."
Dr. Douglas Katz/ Neurologist: "The Bioness product allows patients to enhance the movement, enhance practice and we think may enhance the ability of the brain to reorganize even a long time after the stroke."
And Charlie says the device is helping him get back that independence he Once lost.
Charlie Curran/ Stroke Patient: "I feel good, getting my stamina back, got the use of my left arm and hand now, makes a huge difference"
The Ness H-200 is made by California-based Bioness and is approved by the F-D-A. It costs around $6,200.
Right now Charlie is only able to use the device at the hospital, but the company is working to get him one for home.
