BCI Enables Patient with Spinal Cord Injury to Walk

Image credit: Neurostore

Technology advances published in Nature last month have signalled a giant step forward for those living with spinal cord injury.

Using what researchers tout as a “digital bridge” between the spinal cord and brain, a 40-year-old patient has been able to walk again, 12 years after a bicycle accident left him paralysed.

The wireless system takes signals from the brain via implanted electrodes and converts them into electrical stimulation on the spinal cord, which then triggers movement in the leg muscles – entirely bypassing the injured section of the spinal cord.

“Thanks to algorithms based on adaptive artificial intelligence methods, movement intentions are decoded in real time from brain recordings,” explained Guillaume Charvet, co-researcher and the Head of Medical Device Development Lab at CLINATEC, in a statement.

Check out the video below to watch as patient Gert-Jan Oksam – currently the only person to have tested this technology – stands, walks, climbs stairs and enjoys a drink at the bar with his mates.

Even at times when the device was turned off, researchers noted improvements to Oksam’s motor skills and sensory perceptions – which may indicate the development of new nerve connections. The world will be eager to see and hear more about Oksam’s progress.

“The most surprising thing I think happened after two days… Within five to ten minutes, I could control my hips – the brain implant picked up what I was doing with my hips,” said Oksam in the video.

In Australia alone, approximately 20,800 people are thought to be living with spinal cord injury (AlphaBeta Australia, 2020).

Researchers hope the concept behind the technology could one day be used in other applications, such as restoring arm and hand movement.