Swiss Laboratory Owned by Musk Enables Paralyzed Man to Walk Again Through Brain Chip Implantation
In a groundbreaking development, a man who suffered paralysis due to a cycling accident in 2011 has regained the ability to stand and walk with the aid of a revolutionary medical device. Doctors successfully implanted a chip into his brain, allowing it to interpret his brain waves and transmit instructions to his spine, enabling the activation of the appropriate muscles for movement.
Gert-Jan Oskam, a 40-year-old individual who was told he would never walk again following a severe neck injury in a traffic accident in China, has achieved remarkable milestones after undergoing the procedure. Since the operation, he has managed to climb stairs and walk distances exceeding 100 meters at a time.
Oskam, hailing from the Netherlands, expressed his joy at the progress he has made, stating, "A few months ago, I was able, for the first time after 10 years, to stand up and have a beer with my friends. That was pretty cool. I want to use it in my daily life."
The cutting-edge technology responsible for this breakthrough is the brainchild of a team of neuroscientists in Switzerland, owned by Elon Musk. Their long-standing initiative focuses on developing brain-machine interfaces to combat paralysis. The ultimate objective of this project is to employ wireless signals to restore the connection between the brain and muscles that have been rendered immobile due to damage to the spinal cord nerves.
In a previous trial, Oskam participated in testing a system that replicated the rhythmic steps of walking by transmitting signals from a computer directly to his spinal cord. Although the device enabled him to take several steps at once, the movement was somewhat robotic in nature and had to be initiated using a button or sensor.
For the latest advancement, Professor Jocelyne Bloch, a renowned neurosurgeon at Lausanne University Hospital, placed electrodes on Oskam's brain to detect neural activity when he attempted to move his legs. These readings were then processed by an algorithm, which converted them into pulses. These pulses were subsequently transmitted to additional electrodes in his spine, thereby activating the nerves and allowing the intended movement to occur.
Professor Grégoire Courtine from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne explained the significance of the breakthrough, stating, "What we've been able to do is re-establish communication between the brain and the region of the spinal cord that controls leg movement with a digital bridge." He added that the system could now interpret Gert-Jan's thoughts and stimulate the spinal cord accordingly, thereby restoring voluntary leg movements.
While the device does not yet facilitate swift and fluid strides, Oskam noted that the implant, as described in the renowned scientific journal Nature, enables more natural movements compared to previous attempts. The initiation and control of standing up and walking are now driven by conscious thoughts. The signals emitted by the device stimulate the necessary muscles to flex the hip, knee, and ankle.
Interestingly, the device also appears to enhance rehabilitation efforts. Oskam, who did not sever all the nerves in his spine, experienced some degree of leg control even when the device was turned off after undergoing over 40 training sessions with the implant. Professor Courtine believes that reconnecting the brain and spine contributes to the regeneration of spinal nerves, leading to a partial recovery of lost motor control.
While this work is still in its early stages, the researchers hold great hope for the future. They envision that miniaturized versions of the device could assist stroke patients and individuals suffering from paralysis to regain the ability to walk, move their arms and hands, and even control functions such as bladder movement, which is frequently impaired by spinal cord injuries. However, it is worth noting that restoring arm and hand movements poses a greater challenge due to their inherent complexity compared to walking.
With Gert-Jan Oskam displaying remarkable progress more than a decade after his accident, the team is optimistic that patients with more recent injuries may achieve even better outcomes. Professor Courtine remarked, "With Oskam, it's more than 10 years after the spinal cord injury. Imagine when we apply the digital bridge a few weeks after a spinal cord injury. The potential for recovery is tremendous."