A spinal implant developed by Grégoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch — Swiss Researchers — has allowed three paraplegic men to walk once again. The research data was published in Nature Medicine on Feb. 7, 2022.
Three men with completely severed spinal cords were able to freely move around. Another man’s health improved so much that he was able to become a father.
The device uses electrical stimulation to reactivate spinal neurons. These implants are capable of stimulating the region of the spinal cord that operates the trunk and leg muscles.
“Our stimulation algorithms are still based on imitating nature,” Courtine stated. The team “implanted leads are designed to be placed underneath the vertebrae, directly on the spinal cord.” The leads “can modulate the neurons regulating specific muscle groups. By controlling these implants, we can activate the spinal cord like the brain would do naturally to have the patient stand, walk, swim or ride a bike, for example,” he added.
Last December, Michel Roccati, braved the cold icy wind in Lausanne, Switzerland, and tried the device outside. Four years prior hand Roccati was in a motorcycle accident leaving him paralyzed. Recently he underwent surgery to have the spinal technology placed into his body.
The NeuroRestore research center’s scientists were with Roccati as he demonstrated the new technology. They connected two small remotes to his walker. Then they used Bluetooth-like technology to connect the remotes wirelessly to a tablet that sent signals to a pacemaker in Roccati’s abdomen.
The pacemaker then tells the implanted spinal technology to stimulate certain neurons, causing Roccati to move. When he felt ready, Roccati grasped the handles of the walker and started to saunter. “The first few steps were incredible – a dream come true!” he stated.
He has been practicing taking steps for the past few months. Now he can “go up and down stairs.” He is hoping “to be able to walk one kilometer by this spring.”
Bloch and Courtine’s project has been backed by a consultant at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield who is independent of the research team, Dr. Ram Hariharan. He also speaks for the Spinal Injuries Association.
Dr. Hariharan said that he had not heard of anyone else being able to place “an implant [into a patient with a complete spinal cord cut] and demonstrated muscle movements and improving balance, enough to stand and walk,” according to BBC.
He believes further clinical testing needs to be conducted to prove that the treatment is in fact effective. However, the future may look bright for those who have been unable to walk due to paralysis.
Written by Sheena Robertson
Sources:
BBC: Paralysed man with severed spine walks thanks to implant; by Pallab Ghosh
Neuro Store: New implant offers promise for the paralyzed; by Jimmy Ravier
Top and Featured Image Courtesy of Travis Goodspeed’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Barbara Hobbs’ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
