It's called a "BrainGate" and sounds like science fiction -- a microchip implanted in the brain that helps patients paralyzed from spinal cord injuries control objects with their thoughts.

For Matthew Nagle, a quadriplegic since 2001, the device has given him renewed independence.

"It's wonderful," Nagle, 25, told CTV News.

The microchip connects to the area of the brain that controls movements. When a patient thinks about turning up the volume on a television, the chip collects the brain's electrical signals and transfers them to a computer. That computer then translates the signals and operates the device.

It was developed by Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems Inc. in Massachusetts. Prof. John Donoghue, of Brown University, is the company's chief scientific officer.

"It is a pretty substantial goal to try and restore movement," said Donoghue. "In this case we are trying to restore movement physically by taking a sensor in the brain and connecting it via wires effectively to the muscles again, by bypassing the damage in the nervous system.

"I think we are at the launching site of that type of technology."

Nagle demonstrated the technology by drawing shapes on his computer - just by thinking about it. But the technology is still in its infancy, and the shapes weren't perfect.

"That's the best circle I can do," he said after one attempt.

Only four U.S. patients have the silicon chips, but Donoghue said the chips will ultimately help patients suffering from a range of disorders as the technology advances.

"Basically, anyone in which the brain is still functional but the muscles or the nerves or the spinal cord are damaged or unable to work could benefit from this technology," said Donoghue.

Meanwhile, Toronto Rehab's Prof. Milos Popvic said the BrainGate could help his own research into restoring mobility for paralyzed patients.

Popovic studies how the human nervous system works with muscles to control movement. He uses neuroprosthetic systems - an example is the pacemaker - to help restore lost functions.

The BrainGate could advance his research, Popovic said. Unlike the BrainGate, his devices issue commands from outside the body, not from the patient's own brain.

"It's great and it makes all of our lives more exciting because we can see how we can marry our technology to that," he said.

With a report by CTV's Avis Favaro