Study: Spinal Cord Implant Helps Paralyzed People Walk Again
2022-02-22
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1Researchers say a new electrical device placed in three paralyzed patients has helped them walk again.
2The lower bodies of the three patients were left paralyzed after they suffered spinal cord injuries.
3But a device implanted in the spinal cord was able to send electrical signals to the muscles to permit them to stand, walk and exercise.
4The device is designed to copy an action of the brain, in which it sends signals to the spinal cord that result in muscle movement.
5When the spinal cord receives the brain signals, it stimulates a collection of nerve cells that can activate different muscles.
6In patients with serious spinal cord injuries, messages from the brain have difficulty reaching the nerves.
7But scientists have discovered that neurons - which receive and send signals for muscle movements - often still work in injured patients.
8Past research into spinal cord injuries has centered on the use of electrical devices to stimulate neurons, the publication Nature reports.
9Grégoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne led the latest experiments.
10The results were published in a study in Nature Medicine.
11The experiments involved three men who had been injured in motor bike accidents.
12The patients ages were 29-, 32- and 41-years-old.
13Their injuries were to an area called the thoracic spine, which is below the neck and above the lowest part of the back.
14The researchers reported that all three patients who got the spinal cord implants were able to take their first steps within an hour after receiving them.
15Over the next six months, the patients regained the ability to take part in more advanced walking activities, the study found.
16They were also able to ride bicycles and swim in community settings.
17The individuals can control the nerve-stimulation devices themselves by using a personal electronic device, the researchers said.
18Michel Roccati, from Italy, is one of the patients.
19He told reporters that the first step he took while using the device was "a very emotional experience."
20Roccati added that he can now stand for several hours and walk nearly a kilometer.
21Other researchers have attempted to help paralyzed patients walk by stimulating nerves through the back of the spine.
22But the Federal Institute of Technology's Courtine told Reuters that his team redesigned the devices so signals would enter the spine from the sides.
23This method permits more direct targeting and activation of spinal cord areas, he said.
24The team then developed artificial intelligence (AI) systems linked to the device.
25The AI controls electrodes on the device to send signals to stimulate individual nerves that control muscles needed for walking and other activities.
26When the device was implanted, patients could "immediately activate their legs and step," said researcher Jocelyne Bloch.
27However, because the patients' muscles were weak from not being used, they needed help with supporting their weight, the researchers said.
28It also took some time for them to learn to work with the technology.
29Even though the patients have the ability to perform several kinds of activities, the team said they did not regain completely natural movements.
30Still, Bloch said, "The more they train, the more they start lifting their muscles, the more fluid it becomes."
31Roccati said he activates the implant daily at home and continues to get stronger.
32"I see the improvement every day," he said, adding, "I feel better when I use it."
33I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Researchers say a new electrical device placed in three paralyzed patients has helped them walk again. 2The lower bodies of the three patients were left paralyzed after they suffered spinal cord injuries. But a device implanted in the spinal cord was able to send electrical signals to the muscles to permit them to stand, walk and exercise. 3The device is designed to copy an action of the brain, in which it sends signals to the spinal cord that result in muscle movement. When the spinal cord receives the brain signals, it stimulates a collection of nerve cells that can activate different muscles. 4In patients with serious spinal cord injuries, messages from the brain have difficulty reaching the nerves. But scientists have discovered that neurons - which receive and send signals for muscle movements - often still work in injured patients. 5Past research into spinal cord injuries has centered on the use of electrical devices to stimulate neurons, the publication Nature reports. 6Grégoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne led the latest experiments. The results were published in a study in Nature Medicine. 7The experiments involved three men who had been injured in motor bike accidents. The patients ages were 29-, 32- and 41-years-old. Their injuries were to an area called the thoracic spine, which is below the neck and above the lowest part of the back. 8The researchers reported that all three patients who got the spinal cord implants were able to take their first steps within an hour after receiving them. 9Over the next six months, the patients regained the ability to take part in more advanced walking activities, the study found. They were also able to ride bicycles and swim in community settings. The individuals can control the nerve-stimulation devices themselves by using a personal electronic device, the researchers said. 10Michel Roccati, from Italy, is one of the patients. He told reporters that the first step he took while using the device was "a very emotional experience." Roccati added that he can now stand for several hours and walk nearly a kilometer. 11Other researchers have attempted to help paralyzed patients walk by stimulating nerves through the back of the spine. But the Federal Institute of Technology's Courtine told Reuters that his team redesigned the devices so signals would enter the spine from the sides. This method permits more direct targeting and activation of spinal cord areas, he said. 12The team then developed artificial intelligence (AI) systems linked to the device. The AI controls electrodes on the device to send signals to stimulate individual nerves that control muscles needed for walking and other activities. 13When the device was implanted, patients could "immediately activate their legs and step," said researcher Jocelyne Bloch. 14However, because the patients' muscles were weak from not being used, they needed help with supporting their weight, the researchers said. It also took some time for them to learn to work with the technology. 15Even though the patients have the ability to perform several kinds of activities, the team said they did not regain completely natural movements. Still, Bloch said, "The more they train, the more they start lifting their muscles, the more fluid it becomes." 16Roccati said he activates the implant daily at home and continues to get stronger. "I see the improvement every day," he said, adding, "I feel better when I use it." 17I'm Bryan Lynn. 18Reuters, Agence France-Presse and Nature reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. 19We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 20_____________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22paralyzed - adj. unable to move part of the body such as arms or legs 23implant - v. to place something into someone's body in a medical operation 24stimulate - v. to make something happen or develop more 25advanced - adj. having developed or progressed to a late stage 26artificial intelligence - n. an area of computer science that deals with giving machines the ability to seem like they have human intelligence 27electrode - n. a conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an object, substance or region