A 40-year-old man whose legs are paralyzed is able to climb stairs, move over ramps and switch from standing to walking, thanks to implants in his brain and spinal cord that pair with external devices to translate his thoughts into movement.
The experiment was part of a proof-of-concept study published [May 24] in the journal Nature.
The patient, Gert-Jan Oskam, suffered a spinal cord injury from a motor bike accident 12 years ago.
The system is different from existing technologies in its ability to translate brain signals into movement.
When Oskam thinks about moving his legs, the implant in his brain sends a signal to an external computer, which Oskam wears as a backpack. The computer then processes and relays that signal to a pacemaker in Oskam’s abdomen, which in turn sends electrical pulses to the older implant that was already in his spinal cord. That prompts Oskam’s legs to move. A helmet with two antennas helps the implants stay connected to the computer.
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“The stimulation before was controlling me, and now I’m controlling the stimulation,” Oskam said.
He added that he can now walk 100 to 200 meters (around 330 to 660 feet) per day and stand unsupported for about two or three minutes.
