The wireless way palsy – Republic

This is the first test of this kind. According to experts from the Federal Polytechnic University of Lausanne (EFPL) in the application of this technique in humans, we will have to wait at least ten years. It gives, however, hope to restore the ability to walk to people coming from damage to the spinal cord.

the Swiss is used for experiments rezusów, which is damage to the spinal cord so that they lost power in one paw. Interrupted – transmit nerve impulses – it’s as if someone cut the wires. Then implanted them into the brain implant the electrodes of the analytical activity of the cortex in areas responsible for movement of limbs. These signals were then transmitted to the computer that they dekodował. Accordingly, the processed pulse has been sent to another implant electrodes located below the injury site of the spinal cord. There electronics were able to accelerate the appropriate nerves and muscles in motion.

As described by the journal “Nature”, the entire process is done wirelessly and in real time. Rezusy after six days from the surgery and the start of the program “rehabilitation” could walk on a stationary treadmill. They manage to keep the direction and pace.

- Their movement was very close to the natural slow moving, but still have not checked the possibility of changing the direction of movement, says Dr Gregoire Courtine of the EFPL. – However, our gait is quite different than in the case of primates, which we experimented. We two-legged and require a more complex muscle. Our experience, however, the first in which due neurotechnologii managed to restore motor function of the Primate.

based Rezusy walking on four legs. In this test there was only one leg was paralyzed. It is not known whether the same method works equally well for people who, for example, paralyzed from the waist down and have no power in my legs.

by far the most promising method of recovery will happen soon this technology was developed and applied to Polish experts from the Clinic of Neurosurgery of the University Hospital in Wroclaw. Przeszczepiają they are enhanced by glial cells with the tip of the brain to the spinal cord. There they are repairing the neurons. This procedure the Poles are held in 2012 ugodzonego kilkunastokrotnie knife firefighter Darius Fidyki. Thanks to the surgery, the man regained sensitivity, and can walk and even ride a bike.