New therapies are on the horizon for individuals paralyzed following spinal cord injury. The e-Dura implant developed by EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) scientists can be applied directly to the spinal cord without causing damage and inflammation.
EPFL scientists have managed to get rats walking on their own again using a combination of electrical and chemical stimulation. But applying this method to humans would require multifunctional implants that could be installed for long periods of time on the spinal cord without causing any tissue damage. This is precisely what the teams of professors Stéphanie Lacour and Grégoire Courtine have developed. Their e-Dura implant is designed specifically for implantation on the surface of the brain or spinal cord. The small device closely imitates the mechanical properties of living tissue, and can simultaneously deliver electric impulses and pharmacological substances. The risks of rejection and/or damage to the spinal cord have been drastically reduced. An article about the implant will appear in early January in Science Magazine.
The entire field of research has done a great leap forward in 2014. At the beginning of the year, a fascinating study was published in the magazine "Brain". Four completely paralyzed patients received electrical stimulation of the spinal cord and intensive rehabilitation training. All four of them were able to move their legs voluntarily afterwards — a milestone. In October, news of the next sensation spread like wildfire. A patient in Poland was able to take his first steps after experimental cell therapy — a promising result, which now needs to be proven in a clinical trial with a larger number of patients.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 18 2015, @01:02PM
this news didn't make it to buck feta ...
(Score: 2) by ticho on Sunday January 18 2015, @01:44PM
Well, I only know about it because I took part of http://www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com [wingsforlifeworldrun.com] last year, a sporting event ran by Red Bull, all* proceeds of which are going to spinal cord injury treatment research. I haven't come across these (in my opinion breathtaking) news anywhere else, but linked from their site.
I urge anyone who runs at least a little bit to join this running event, it's awesome.
* At least they claim so. :)
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 18 2015, @01:59PM
http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1419540/pope-francis-philippines.jpg [ibtimes.co.uk]
https://archive.today/4O5wx [archive.today]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 18 2015, @07:29PM
Could they connect legs/hands side to, say, a shooter game? Or, perhaps, drone controls? Better yet, missile.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Sunday January 18 2015, @07:36PM
JAKE (V.O.) They can fix a spinal, if you've got the money.
Kinda weird that movie goers could buy the interstellar travel, 9-foot tall aliens being cloned, and unobtainium of Avatar, but balk at believing spinal cord injuries could be repaired. Or worse, that you would have to sell your soul as a mercenary for a mining company (Hello, Anaconda!) to get medical care. But that was just a movie.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 18 2015, @08:34PM
The directors take their predictions and biases to the theater. Many sci-fi plots don't feature anti-aging even though it is a sure thing compared to interstellar travel.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by kaszz on Tuesday January 20 2015, @01:23PM
Rather than introducing foreign materials like metals and plastic. I've seen better methods that use stem cells, cellular matrix and signaling substances. They will integrate to the body rather than being a kludge.
Regardless, we will see a revolution which will overcome many of the problems that are currently viewed as "impossible".