Thanks to groundbreaking technology, a 40-year-old man who was paralyzed from the waist down after a cycling accident 12 years ago can now walk again.
The man, Gert-Jan Oskam, received implants in his brain and spinal cord that allowed him to stand, walk, climb stairs, and navigate complex terrain.
The brain-spine interface (BSI) has remained stable for a year, and Oskam even regains some control over his legs when the BSI is turned off.
The technology was developed by a team of researchers led by neuroscientist Grégoire Courtine, who previously found that stimulating the lower spine can help people with spinal cord injuries walk again.
Oskam participated in 40 sessions of neurorehabilitation throughout the study and can now walk at least 100 meters at a time.
The researchers hope to miniaturize the hardware needed to run the interface and use the technology to restore arm movement and help stroke patients in the future.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
