April 8, 2014 by Arezu Sarvestani
Four patients with lower limb paralysis were able to move their legs on command after implantation with a Medtronic spinal stimulator, traditionally used to manage chronic pain.
Four patients were able to move their legs on command for the first time in more than 2 years after undergoing surgery to implant aMedtronic (NYSE:MDT) spinal cord stimulator, researchers said.
Medtronic’s RestoreADVANCED implant, traditionally used to manage chronic pain, helped spur voluntary muscle activity in patients who otherwise had no motor control, including 2 who had also lost physical sensation in their legs.
“We have uncovered a fundamentally new intervention strategy that can dramatically affect recovery of voluntary movement in individuals with complete paralysis even years after injury,” the researchers wrote. “Future experiments with improved technology are needed expediently to take the most advantage functionally of these neurophysiological findings in people after severe spinal cord injury.”
