Naked Scientists Special Editions

15.09.25

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Scientists in America have helped a paralysed man to take his first steps in over 5 years. They've done it by developing a system that eavesdrops on the patient's brainwaves and can detect when he wants to walk. The computer then activates a stimulator system that can signal the patient's leg muscles to move, enabling him to stand, and then walk unaided. The device, which is the first of its kind, provides a way for patients paralysed by spinal cord injuries to bypass the roadblock preventing the flow of instructions from the brain to motor nerves and muscles and recover their ability to move. The breakthrough is the brainchild of engineer Zoran Nenadic and neurologist An Do. Dr. Chris Smith asked then all about it.
24 Sep 2015 English United Kingdom Science

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