Walking naturally after spinal cord injury using a brain–spine interface

Henri Lorach, Andrea Galvez, Valeria Spagnolo, Felix Martel, Serpil Karakas, Nadine Intering, Molywan Vat, Olivier Faivre, Cathal Harte, Salif Komi, Jimmy Ravier, Thibault Collin, Laure Coquoz, Icare Sakr, Edeny Baaklini, Sergio Daniel Hernandez-Charpak, Gregory Dumont, Rik Buschman, Nicholas Buse, Tim Denison, Ilse Nes, Leonie Asboth, Anne Watrin, Lucas Struber, Fabien Sauter-Starace, Lilia Langar, Vincent Auboiroux, Stefano Carda, Stephan Chabardes, Tetiana Aksenova, Robin Demesmaeker, Guillaume Charvet (), Jocelyne Bloch () and Grégoire Courtine ()
Additional contact information
Henri Lorach: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Andrea Galvez: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Valeria Spagnolo: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Felix Martel: CEA, LETI, Clinatec
Serpil Karakas: CEA, LETI, Clinatec
Nadine Intering: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Molywan Vat: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Olivier Faivre: CEA, LETI, Clinatec
Cathal Harte: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Salif Komi: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Jimmy Ravier: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Thibault Collin: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Laure Coquoz: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Icare Sakr: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Edeny Baaklini: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Sergio Daniel Hernandez-Charpak: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Gregory Dumont: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Rik Buschman: Medtronic
Nicholas Buse: Medtronic
Tim Denison: Medtronic
Ilse Nes: Sint Maartenskliniek
Leonie Asboth: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Anne Watrin: ONWARD Medical
Lucas Struber: CEA, LETI, Clinatec
Fabien Sauter-Starace: CEA, LETI, Clinatec
Lilia Langar: Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Clinatec
Vincent Auboiroux: CEA, LETI, Clinatec
Stefano Carda: Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL)
Stephan Chabardes: CEA, LETI, Clinatec
Tetiana Aksenova: CEA, LETI, Clinatec
Robin Demesmaeker: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Guillaume Charvet: CEA, LETI, Clinatec
Jocelyne Bloch: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Grégoire Courtine: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)

Nature, 2023, vol. 618, issue 7963, 126-133

Abstract: Abstract A spinal cord injury interrupts the communication between the brain and the region of the spinal cord that produces walking, leading to paralysis1,2. Here, we restored this communication with a digital bridge between the brain and spinal cord that enabled an individual with chronic tetraplegia to stand and walk naturally in community settings. This brain–spine interface (BSI) consists of fully implanted recording and stimulation systems that establish a direct link between cortical signals3 and the analogue modulation of epidural electrical stimulation targeting the spinal cord regions involved in the production of walking4–6. A highly reliable BSI is calibrated within a few minutes. This reliability has remained stable over one year, including during independent use at home. The participant reports that the BSI enables natural control over the movements of his legs to stand, walk, climb stairs and even traverse complex terrains. Moreover, neurorehabilitation supported by the BSI improved neurological recovery. The participant regained the ability to walk with crutches overground even when the BSI was switched off. This digital bridge establishes a framework to restore natural control of movement after paralysis.

Date: 2023
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06094-5 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:nature:v:618:y:2023:i:7963:d:10.1038_s41586-023-06094-5

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06094-5

Access Statistics for this article

Nature is currently edited by Magdalena Skipper

More articles in Nature from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().