A team at .NeuroRestore, led by Grégoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch, has developed an advanced system that combines implanted spinal cord neuroprosthetics with rehabilitation robotics. This device delivers electrical pulses to stimulate muscles in sync with robotic movements, enhancing both immediate mobility and long-term recovery. The system integrates with various robotic devices, like exoskeletons and treadmills, and adjusts stimulation in real time using wireless sensors. In a proof-of-concept study, participants with spinal cord injuries showed improved muscle activation and even voluntary movement after therapy. This technology offers significant promise for transforming spinal cord injury rehabilitation, providing a seamless, adaptable solution for therapy in clinical and real-world settings. They write:
A team at .NeuroRestore, led by Grégoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch, has now developed a system that seemlessly integrates an implanted spinal cord neuroprosthesis with rehabilitation robotics. The researchers’ device delivers well-timed electrical pulses to stimulate muscles in harmony with robotic movements, resulting in natural and coordinated muscle activity during therapy. The neuroprosthetics innovation leveraged the the robotic expertise of Professor Auke Ijspeert’s lab at EPFL. This advancement not only enhances immediate mobility but also fosters long-term recovery. […]
In a proof-of-concept study involving five individuals with spinal cord injuries, the combination of robotics and electrical epidural stimulation resulted in immediate and sustained muscle activation. Not only did participants regain the ability to engage muscles during robotic-assisted therapy, but some also improved their voluntary movements even after the stimulation was turned off.
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