Stimulation does not work in a small number of people who have no connection left between the brain and spine below the injury. But for those who still have the connection, stimulation appears to make voluntary movements easier by increasing the likelihood that the nerves will transmit signals. Over the past few decades, studies in animals have shown that stimulation activates remaining nerve fibers and, over time, helps new nerves grow. This is why the benefits persist even after the stimulator is turned off.
The biggest advantage of external stimulation systems over implants is that they do not require surgery, which reduces the burden of using the device. “There are a very large number of people who are not interested in invasive techniques,” Edelle Field-Fote, director of spinal cord injury research at the Shepherd Center, said at a news conference. Although the company has not yet set a price for the ARCex, the external device will likely be cheaper than the surgical option.
“What we’re seeing here is a device that integrates seamlessly with the physical and occupational therapy already provided in hospitals,” Chet Moritz, an engineer and neuroscientist at the University of Washington in Seattle, said at a press conference. . Rehabilitation that occurs immediately after an injury is very important because it is when you have the greatest chance for recovery. “Being able to restore that function without surgery could be life-changing for the majority of people with spinal cord injury,” he adds.
Reid wishes he had been able to use the device immediately after his injury, but was surprised by the amount of function he was able to regain after all this time. “You would think that after 14 years, I would be where I am now and nothing would change,” she says. So suddenly discovering that she had strength and power in her left hand “was such a surprise,” she says.
Onward is also developing an implantable device that could deliver stronger, more targeted stimulation, making it effective even in people with complete paralysis. The company hopes to begin testing this next year.