Scientists at the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne have developed a wireless brain-spine interface that allows a 40-year-old paralyzed man to learn to walk naturally. The research was published in the journal Nature.
A 40-year-old Dutch man suffered a spinal cord injury in a cycling accident in China 11 years ago and has since lost the ability to walk. The scientists implanted a device in his brain that collects movement signals that travel through the spinal cord and move the legs in a healthy person. The implant transmits these signals wirelessly to a second device located in the lower part of the spine and then stimulates the leg muscles.
This experimental high-tech “digital bridge” between brain and spine allowed a man to walk, stand and paint with a brush. He can now walk 100 to 200 meters at a time and stand for two or three minutes without the help of his hands.
A stimulator had been implanted in the man’s back in previous studies. This allowed him to move, but his movements were robotic and rigid. Now a man can control many parameters of leg movement, allowing him to walk on any terrain, climb stairs, climb ramps and stop and start moving at will.
The device also improved the patient’s neurological recovery. After 40 sessions of neurorehabilitation, she was able to walk on crutches even with the implant disabled. He can also walk around the house by himself, get in and out of the car, or have a drink with friends while standing at the bar.
The research team hopes to commission a second paraplegic patient to implant the device to see if the same system works in others. They also hope to adapt the device for patients with stroke and upper and lower body paralysis.