Nature Medicine: Miracle!

As early as 30 years ago, preclinical and clinical studies have shown that epidural electrical stimulation (ESS) on the lumbosacral spinal cord can restore walking ability in patients with spinal cord injury

In 2018, Dr.

This time, they developed individualized spinal cord electrical stimulation electrodes controlled by artificial intelligence software, which activated the spinal cord regions of the trunk and leg muscles by electrical stimulation after implantation.

Spinal cord stimulation is a promising therapeutic option for restoring motor function in patients with spinal cord injury

The study was part of a clinical trial (NCT02936453) in three patients, all with complete sensorimotor paralysis due to spinal cord injury, aged 29-41

The research team combined the technology with artificial intelligence (AI) to program electrical stimulation for each type of activity.

The three fully paralyzed patients were able to independently and independently stand, walk, cycle, swim and control trunk movements just hours after receiving treatment

The neurological recovery from this electrical spinal cord stimulation promotes sufficient improvement to allow these otherwise fully paralyzed spinal cord injured patients to resume daily activities, which opens up specific clinically meaningful therapies for patients with severe spinal cord injuries to aid in their recovery blaze a trail of reality

The clinical trial is a collaboration between EPFL, the University Hospital of Lausanne and Onward Medical, a company established in 2014 to develop therapies to restore movement, independence and health in people with spinal cord injuries

Grégoire Courtine (right) and Jocelyne Bloch (left)

Original source:

Rowald, A.