Spinal Implant Helps Paralyzed Man Walk Again
An implant developed by researchers in Switzerland has allowed a paralyzed man to walk again.
In 2017, Michel Roccati was in a motorcycle accident that severed his spinal cord and left his lower body completely paralyzed.
He can now stand and walk again, with the help of an electrical implant that has been attached to his spine.
The implant sends electrical signals to the nerves that control the muscles in his legs. The signals are controlled by a tablet that provides instructions for different actions, such as walking or even kicking the legs for swimming.
These signals are usually sent to the legs through nerves in the spinal cord. However, when these nerves are damaged due to injury, the signals are too weak to create movement, leaving the person paralyzed.
The researchers published their results in Nature Medicine in February, with Roccati one of three patients involved. According to the researchers, all three were able to stand, walk, swim and cycle within a day of receiving the implant.
While the technology is still too complicated for use in daily life, it's the first time someone with a completely severed spine has been able to walk again.
"I stand up, walk where I want to, I can walk the stairs — it's almost a normal life," Roccati told the BBC. However, he still needs to hold a walker to support his legs when he walks — something he says he does for two hours each day.
Nine patients have received the implant so far, using it as part of their training programs to rebuild muscle and learn to move around by themselves.
The researchers said this is not a cure for spinal injury, but it is an important part of the process of improving the quality of life of paralyzed patients.
