Efforts to develop spinal cord injury treatments have taken a step forward with the first implant of a novel spinal stimulator in the US.
It is hoped that the implantation of the spinal cord epidural stimulator in an individual with paralysis will improve motor and autonomic function.
The milestone is part of an exploratory and development research study through the BRAIN Initiative to investigate bladder function and locomotor ability in individuals who have lived with spinal injury for less than 12 months.
Once implanted, the device delivers electrical impulses directly into the spinal cord that potentially allow individuals to regain critical bodily functions, prospectively improving bladder function, motor control, and quality of life.
Gail Forrest, director of Kessler Foundation’s Reynolds Center in New Jersey, where the procedure took place, said: “This success underscores the potential of epidural spinal stimulation to change lives.”
Claudia Angeli, assistant director of the Reynolds Center, anticipates future success. “We are eager to expand our understanding of the benefits of spinal cord epidural stimulation in our endeavor to make this technology more accessible to all with spinal cord injury.”
The centre says its goal is to build on the wealth of existing neuromodulation research and enhance the lives of individuals with spinal cord injury across multiple domains, potentially paving the way for improved function and quality of life in the future.
To date, more than 70 individuals with paralysis have contributed to the steady progress of spinal treatments at the Reynolds Center.
