A patch which uses electrodes to send "lost signals" to leg muscles from the brain has allowed individuals paralysed from the waist down to walk again. Placed just above the injury, the 16 electrodes do not repair the damage but instead fill in the gap missing in the signalling process through epidural stimulation. The device is being tested on patients with spinal cord injuries and other conditions that cause muscle weakness or loss of sensation. Once the researchers have a better understanding of how the device works, the research will be extended to other injured individuals. The findings have been published in Nature Medicine and the New England Journal of Medicine.
A patch which uses electrodes to send "lost signals" to leg muscles from the brain has allowed individuals paralysed from the waist down to walk again. Placed just above the injury, the 16 electrodes do not repair the damage but instead fill in the gap missing in the signalling process through epidural stimulation. A battery implanted in the abdominal wall allows for wireless stimulation. Once the researchers have a better understanding of how the device works, the research will be extended to other injured individuals. The findings have been published in Nature Medicine and the New England Journal of Medicine.