Project NEUWalk

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Project NEUWalk

• George Halkidis
• BME 181 Pres. 1

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THE SPINAL CORD

• The spinal cord, along with the brain, make up
  the Central Nervous System
• Its comprised of nervous tissue which allows for
  communication between the brain and the body
• If damaged, signals cannot be properly
  transmitted and often leads to paralysis
• There are few available treatments and no cures
  for a spinal cord injury

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THE SPINAL CORD INJURY
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EPFL Study

• Scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of
  Technology (EPFL) have developed a system to
  allow rats with severed spinal cords to walk
  again
• The rat has no voluntary control of its limbs,
  but the severed spinal cord can be reactivated
  and stimulated to perform natural walking. -
  Gregoire Courtine (EPFL)

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EPFL Study cont.

• In order to stimulate the paralyzed legs of the
  rats, a wireless neurotransmitter is used in
  combination with surgically placed electrodes in
  the rats spine
• Varying the amplitudes and frequencies of the
  applied electrical signals combine for different
  movements of the limbs

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NEUWalk

• EPFL is in collaboration with other European
  neuroscientists to make their neuroprosthetic
  available for human medical use
• With a successful trial with rats, human trials
  are scheduled to begin the summer of 2015

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Project NEUWalk, From Rats to Humans
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Future of NEUWalk

• Human trials in the summer of 2015
• Combined with the Gait Platform, NEUWalk can
  revolutionize rehabilitation with spinal cord
  injury patients and Parkinsons patients
• This technology could also lead to a real time,
  brain controlled neuroprosthetic

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References

• IFL Science lthttp//www.iflscience.com/health-and-
  medicine/spinal-cord-stimulation-allows-completely
  -paralyzed-rats-walk-againgt.
• Popular Mechanics article lthttp//www.popularmecha
  nics.com/science/health/nueroscience/prosthetics-a
  re-telling-paralyzed-leg-how-to-walk-again-1724305
  5?clickpm_latestgt.
• EurekAlert EPFL Publication. lthttp//www.eurekale
  rt.org/pub_releases/2014-09/epfd-frt092114.phpgt.
• National Library of Medicine Spinal Cord
  Injuries. lthttp//www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spin
  alcordinjuries.htmlgt.
• NEUWalk Project Website. lthttp//www.neuwalk.eu/gt.
  
• From Rats to Humans Youtube Video.
  lthttps//www.youtube.com/watch?vfxNRfxeFnjkgt.