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Project NEUWalk

Explore the breakthrough NEUWalk project by EPFL, enabling rats with severed spinal cords to walk again through neuroprosthetics. Human trials set for 2015. Potential to revolutionize spinal cord injury and Parkinson's patient rehabilitation.

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Project NEUWalk

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  1. Project NEUWalk George Halkidis BME 181 Pres. #1

  2. The spinal cord, along with the brain, make up the Central Nervous System • It’s 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 THE SPINAL CORD

  3. THE SPINAL CORD INJURY

  4. 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) EPFL Study

  5. 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 EPFL Study cont.

  6. 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 NEUWalk

  7. Project NEUWalk, “From Rats to Humans”

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

  9. IFL Science <http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/spinal-cord-stimulation-allows-completely-paralyzed-rats-walk-again>. Popular Mechanics article <http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/nueroscience/prosthetics-are-telling-paralyzed-leg-how-to-walk-again-17243055?click=pm_latest>. EurekAlert: EPFL Publication. <http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-09/epfd-frt092114.php>. National Library of Medicine: Spinal Cord Injuries. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spinalcordinjuries.html>. NEUWalk Project Website. <http://www.neuwalk.eu/>. “From Rats to Humans” Youtube Video. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxNRfxeFnjk>. References

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