Technology advances by leaps and bounds, and medical science is no different. Paralysis, a condition with multiple causes, takes away mobility and independence from 100 million people around the world. Now it is at the center of innovative research that aims to restore what once seemed lost. Here are four solutions on the horizon that look very promising.
Northwell Health: “anti-paralysis” microchip
At Northwell health, a group of researchers has made great strides. In a pioneering study, they implanted microchips in the brain of a paralyzed man. Thanks to AI they managed to reconstruct the connections between the patient's brain, spinal cord and body, returning sensations and movement to the individual's arm and hand. It's not just hope for those suffering from paralysis, but a window into how AI and technology can be used to overcome seemingly insurmountable medical challenges. Apparently.
Battelle: from brain to muscle
The research organization Battelle took a slightly different approach. Using a brain implant and a sort of “sleeve” with electrodes placed on the forearm, the team was able to stimulate the muscles necessary to restore movement in the arm of a patient with paralysis.
This technology (Find the study here) has been producing results for almost 3 years. And it brings light to how the direct connection between the brain and muscles can be reactivated, offering new hope for restoring mobility.
Progress with the brain-computer interface
The integration of a brain-computer interface with a spinal implant (road also traveled from Neuralink, Elon Musk's startup) has already shown extraordinary results, allowing a paraplegic patient to walk again. This goal, published last May in the scientific journal Nature, shows how the combination of different technologies can offer revolutionary solutions for the treatment of paralysis.
ONWARD: signals from the future
The Dutch company ONWARD is taking brain implant technology to a new level. Researchers have developed a device that collects signals from a brain implant and uses them to stimulate the spinal cord of a paralyzed patient, thus restoring lost movement. This invention (you can learn more about it here) represents another step toward a future where paralysis could become a treatable condition. If not even reversible.
Technology VS Paralysis, open game
The road to regaining mobility for paralyzed patients is still long, but with these technological innovations, the future looks much brighter. The promise of an independent life is no longer a distant dream, but a tangible possibility that is getting ever closer to reality. The implications of these technologies go beyond simply restoring mobility, proposing a new era of autonomy and hope.
