Becker's Healthcare May 25, 2023
Researchers in Switzerland have developed implants that provide a “digital bridge” between the brain and spinal cord, which have allowed a man to walk again 12 years after being paralyzed from the waist down in a motorcycle accident, The New York Times reported May 24.
About a year ago, researchers implanted electrodes into Gert-Jan Oskam’s skull and spinal cord. Using a machine-learning program, researchers identified which parts of his brain lit up as he tried to move different parts of his body. This brain-spine interface was able to bridge the disconnect between Mr. Oskam’s intent to move and his body’s response, bypassing injured areas of his...