Key Takeaways
1. A surgical team in Hangzhou successfully implanted a closed-loop spinal cord neural interface in a paraplegic man, enabling him to stand and walk independently.
2. The patient, Mr. Jin, had lost movement and sensation below the chest due to a spinal injury and showed no improvement after traditional rehabilitation.
3. The procedure involved placing a 16-contact stimulation electrode in the lumbar spinal cord, paired with a wireless pulse generator, all developed in China.
4. Remarkable recovery was observed, with Mr. Jin regaining leg movement, standing, and walking within weeks, along with improvements in sensory perception and bladder control.
5. The innovative adaptive interface used in the procedure allows for more natural walking patterns, and researchers plan to conduct larger trials to improve treatment for spinal cord injuries.
A surgical group in Hangzhou has successfully completed the first implantation in China of a closed-loop spinal cord neural interface, which has enabled a 61-year-old paraplegic man to stand and walk on his own. This groundbreaking operation took place at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, supported by Zhejiang University’s Nanhu Brain-Computer Interface Institute and several other collaborators. This milestone marks a significant advancement in restoring motor and sensory abilities following serious spinal cord injuries.
Background of the Patient
Mr. Jin experienced a total loss of voluntary movement and most of his sensations below the chest due to a thoracic 3/4 fracture sustained from a fall in October 2024. After undergoing four months of traditional rehabilitation, he showed no meaningful improvement in motor function. Clinicians deemed his chances of walking independently to be extremely slim.
Details of the Procedure
In March 2025, neurosurgeons placed a 16-contact stimulation electrode into Mr. Jin’s lumbar spinal cord, along with a small, wireless, rechargeable pulse generator located in his abdomen. All the equipment utilized during this procedure was developed in China and holds domestic intellectual property rights. The closed-loop system links real-time electromyography feedback with customized patterns of multi-site stimulation, designed to enhance remaining spinal circuits instead of drowning them in constant pulses.
Remarkable Recovery Progress
Recovery came swiftly. By the third day after the surgery, Jin was able to voluntarily flex and extend his legs. By the fifteenth day, he could stand and walk without assistance. One month later, he was able to navigate turns, inclines, and varying speeds using a walker. Alongside this physical recovery, sensory perception in his lower limbs improved, and he regained bladder and bowel control, indicating a possible repair of the afferent pathways.
The research team highlights that conventional stimulators with fixed parameters rarely restore complex, self-initiated walking. Their adaptive interface merges precise selection of contacts with dynamic adjustments in frequency and amplitude, facilitating a more natural walking pattern. Considering that around 3.7 million individuals in China are living with spinal cord injuries, researchers aim to conduct larger trials to fine-tune the parameters, assess durability, and investigate new methods for repairing neural injuries, including studies on various types of paralysis.
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