VIDEO – monkeys paralyzed remarchent thanks to an implant innovative – LCI

HOPE – Of macaques have recovered the use of their limbs are paralyzed thanks to a whole new neuroprothèse. A discovery that holds promise for all people with lesions at the level of the spinal cord.

It works for science. Researchers have managed to walk two monkeys paralyzed in the lower limbs. How? An international consortium led by the École Polytechnique de Lausanne (EPFL) and including the Institute of neurodegenerative diseases (CNRS/University of Bordeaux) has developed a way to implant quite innovative, linking the brain to the spinal cord. Their study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature portends major advances for Man.

specifically, the team has developed a neuroprothèse. It consists of two implants connected by a wireless system. The first, set at the level of the brain, serves to record and decode motor intentions of the primate. The second is placed at the level of the spinal cord, below the injury. It allows for the transmission of the movements ordered by the brain.

once the system is developed, the researchers therefore wanted to test their device. And for this, they put two macaques partially paralyzed following a spinal cord injury. The experience has paid off because one of the monkeys began to regain the use of one leg only a week after the installation of the wireless system. The trial also worked for the second monkey, which was able to wander about two weeks later. Note that no therapy additional was necessary.

I can imagine a patient is completely paralyzed be able to move her legsPr Jocelyne Bloch

These first tests are very promising for the future. They demonstrate the effectiveness of the implants for partial lesions, and a complete rehabilitation at the end of three months. But better yet, the scientists think that the neuroprothèse could also work on damage more severe.

“The link between the decoding of the brain and the spinal cord stimulation – so that this communication exists – is completely new”, welcomes the neurochirurgienne Jocelyne Bloch, of the university of Lausanne, in a news release. “For the first time, I can imagine a patient is completely paralyzed be able to move her legs through the interface brain-spinal cord”, she concludes. A clinical study to test the feasibility of the process on the Man is already in progress.