Researchers at the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne have created a wireless brain-spine interface that helps a paralyzed man relearn natural walking. The findings appear in Nature.
Involved is a 40-year-old Dutch man who suffered a spinal cord injury during a cycling crash in China 11 years ago, losing the ability to walk. A device was placed in his brain to capture movement signals. Those signals travel through the spine and drive the leg muscles in a way that mirrors natural motion. The signal is sent wirelessly to a second device implanted in the lower spine, which then stimulates the leg muscles to produce stepping and balancing actions.
This experimental digital bridge between brain and spine enabled the man to walk, stand, and even paint with a brush. He can now cover 100 to 200 meters in a single session and stand for two to three minutes without needing support from his hands.
Earlier studies used a back stimulator, which allowed limited movement but produced robotic, stiff actions. With the new system, doctors can adjust many parameters of leg movement, allowing walking on varied terrain, stair climbing, ramp navigation, and purposeful starts and stops on command.
Beyond mobility, the device contributed to neurological recovery. After 40 neurorehabilitation sessions, the patient walked with crutches even when the implant was turned off. He can also move around his home, get in and out of a car, and even toast friends while standing at a bar.
Looking ahead, the study team plans to involve a second paraplegic participant to test the device’s effectiveness in another individual. They also aim to adapt the technology for people who have suffered a stroke or have paralysis affecting both the upper and lower body.