Completely Paralyzed Man Voluntarily Moves His Legs
From: Medical Design Technology - 09/01/2015

A 39-year-old man who had had been completely paralyzed for four years was
able to voluntarily control his leg muscles and take thousands of steps in a
"robotic exoskeleton" device during five days of training - and for two weeks
afterward - a team of UCLA scientists reports this week.

This is the first time that a person with chronic, complete paralysis has
regained enough voluntary control to actively work with a robotic device
designed to enhance mobility.

In addition to the robotic device, the man was aided by a novel noninvasive
spinal stimulation technique that does not require surgery. His leg movements
also resulted in other health benefits, including improved cardiovascular
function and muscle tone.

The new approach combines a battery-powered wearable bionic suit that enables
people to move their legs in a step-like fashion, with a noninvasive
procedure that the same researchers had previously used to enable five men
who had been completely paralyzed to move their legs in a rhythmic motion.
That earlier achievement is believed to be the first time people who are
completely paralyzed have been able to relearn voluntary leg movements
without surgery. (The researchers do not describe the achievement as
"walking" because no one who is completely paralyzed has independently walked
in the absence of the robotic device and electrical stimulation of the spinal
cord.)

Read the entire article and view a video (1:27) at:
http://www.mdtmag.com/news/2015/09/completely-paralyzed-man-voluntarily-moves-his-legs
http://www.biosciencetechnology.com/news/2015/09/completely-paralyzed-man-voluntarily-moves-his-legs-scientists-report

Links:
Non-surgical approach helps people with paralysis voluntarily move their legs
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/in-ucla-study-non-surgical-approach-helps-people-with-paralysis-voluntarily-move-their-legs-a-first

4 Lessons from a Breakthrough Spinal Stimulation Treatment
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a7154/4-lessons-from-a-breakthrough-spinal-stimulation-treatment

NeuroRecovery Technologies
http://neurorecoverytechnologies.com

Paralyzed Man Takes Steps in 'Robotic Exoskeleton'
http://www.pddnet.com/news/2015/09/completely-paralyzed-man-voluntarily-moves-his-legs
http://www.pddnet.com/news/2015/09/photos-day-paralyzed-man-takes-steps-robotic-exoskeleton

Overground Stepping in an Exoskeleton Combined with Noninvasive Spinal Cord Stimulation
  after Paralysis
http://emb.citengine.com/event/embc-2015/paper-details?pdID=4403

Completely paralyzed man steps out in robotic exoskeleton
http://www.gizmag.com/ucla-robotic-exoskeleton-non-invasive-spinal-cord-stimulation/39216

Paralyzed Man Takes Steps with Robotic Assist in UCLA Study
http://www.rehabpub.com/2015/09/robotic-device-reportedly-enables-paralyzed-man-move-legs-take-steps

Robotic Exoskeleton Helps Paralyzed Voluntarily Control Movements
http://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/component/content/article/1104-mdb/news/22920

Related:
Regaining Leg Control with Spinal Stimulation
http://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/component/content/article/mdb/tech-briefs/23071