Photo:CHUV 2022/WEBER Gilles
CHUV 2022/WEBER Gilles
Gert-Jan Oskam is walking for the first time since becoming paralyzed 12 years ago in a cycling accident, according to multiple reports.
“A few months ago, I was able for the first time after 10 years, to stand up and have a beer with my friends. That was pretty cool. I want to use it in my daily life,” said Osckam, who is from the Netherlands.
In addition to the implant, there is a “processing unit that a person wears externally, like a backpack,” the outlet notes, which then sends signals back to the second implant to stimulate the muscles.
“What we’ve been able to do is re-establish communication between the brain and the region of the spinal cord that controls leg movement with a digital bridge,” Courtine toldTheGuardian,explaining the system could “capture the thoughts of Gert-Jan and translate those thoughts into stimulation of the spinal cord to re-establish voluntary leg movements."
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“Spinal-cord injury interrupts communication between the brain and spinal cord, leading to paralysis,” the study explains. “An implant that decodes the brain signals that control movements and drives electrical stimulation of the spinal cord re-establishes this communication, enabling an individual with spinal-cord injury to walk naturally.”
“Imagine when we apply the digital bridge a few weeks after spinal cord injury,“Courtine said. “The potential for recovery is tremendous.
source: people.com
