Completely Paralyzed Man Walks In Robotic Exoskeleton

Zothecula writes: Working with a team of UCLA scientists, a man with protracted and complete paralysis has recovered sufficient voluntary control to take charge of a bionic exoskeleton and take many thousands of steps. Using a non-invasive spinal stimulation system that requires no surgery, this is claimed (abstract) to be the first time that a person with such a comprehensive disability has been able to actively and voluntarily walk with such a device.

Comments

Great news!

[Archangel Michael]

Get away from her you bitch!

Hats off

[Anonymous Coward]

Good. This is absolutely the type of research and technological progress we need in order to make the world a better place. Excellent job by the researchers, and to the patients who've endured this condition and not lost hope as well.

Bet he cost more than $6 million

[gurps_npc]

But it wouldn't surprise me if his name is Steve and lives in Austin.

What a patient

[fred911]

FTA

"In the latest study, the researchers treated Mark Pollock, who lost his sight in 1998 and later became the first blind man to race to the South Pole. In 2010, Pollock fell from a second-story window and suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down."

"âoeStepping with the stimulation and having my heart rate increase, along with the awareness of my legs under me, was addictive. I wanted more,â he said."

  Sounds like a pretty strong dude.

Re:What a patient

[Calydor]

Also sounds like a guy the universe is desperately trying to kill. Do we ... really want to make him mobile again? ;-)

Re: What a patient

[binarylarry]

In 2016, Mark lost both arms in a freak robotic suit electrocution accident.

Scientists are working on on a tritium powered, eight limbed robotic exo skeleton and prerequisite inhibitor chip to help him overcome his latest disability.

Re:What a patient

[Anonymous Coward]

"In the latest study, the researchers treated Mark Pollock, who lost his sight in 1998 and later became the first blind man to race to the South Pole. In 2010, Pollock fell from a second-story window and suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down."

Answers to the name of "Lucky"

Re: What a patient

[tehcyder]

When asked to comment he replied "it's just a flesh wound".

*Completely* paralyzed?

[wonkey_monkey]

Completely Paralyzed Man Walks In Robotic Exoskeleton

Not to take away from the achievements that are the subject of the story, which are frankly brilliant, but is someone who clearly has control over their upper body completely paralyzed?

Re:*Completely* paralyzed?

[Firethorn]

"below the waist" was probably cut in editing.

My grandfather's legs are partially paralyzed, he can still walk, but it's pretty obvious if you watch him that he doesn't have full control.

Re:*Completely* paralyzed?

[Doub]

It's pure click bait since legs-only exoskeletons are hardly news. And then they complain when we use ad blockers...

Welcome ...

[gstoddart]

I for one welcome our new paralyzed, exoskeleton-wearing overlords.

No, seriously, this is pretty damned awesome.

Damn - I misread it

[Anonymous Coward]

Honestly, while scanning the headlines, I thought it said "Completely Paralyzed Man Walks Into A Robotic Exoskeleton".

Re:Damn - I misread it

[wonkey_monkey]

I don't get it.

Coooool

[Anonymous Coward]

It's like the opposite of Terminator.

Completely Paralyzed Man

[thinkwaitfast]

Goes for a Ride In Walking Robotic Exoskeleton

This is great news... apk

[Anonymous Coward]

I have a close friend that had a stroke & hasn't come back from it fully (oh, he's able to walk for short distances NOW, after 6++ yrs. after it initially happened, but he was bed-ridden for a long time & tons of physical therapy + training to get to what he has going now)... his right side is frozen pretty much.

* Something like this would help him tremendously.

APK

P.S.=> Anyhow/anyways - I always like hearing that the world of engineering & sciences makes great breakthrus for the good of people, so I comment with a "3 cheers" for the inventors because of it - it's a good thing & great accomplishment making strides (pun intended) to helping folks make strides & walk! apk

Re:This is great news... apk

[Anonymous Coward]

Nobody gives a shit what you think, freak.

Re:This is great news... apk

[Anonymous Coward]

Apparently you do unidentifiable little anonymous pussy.

Help!

[vinaychittora]

I can't express how happy I am to hear this news. It's been 26 years since I felt my legs down there. I am from India, and just another engineer in the crowd. I don't think I can afford that right now but can anyone give me directions, should I contact these people to make me the part of experiments or something? It would be great if slashdot people help me to find out a path to reach there. Thanks to the researchers who made it possible and showing a silver-lining to the people suffering from such conditions.

At least I can think (unlike you)... apk

[Anonymous Coward]

See subject: It says it all...

* :)

APK

P.S.=> I wonder WHICH "butthurt" littletroll you are that I've completely outwitted & torn up here on /., that you're STILL 'stinging' so badly from it? Guess I'll never know since you don't have ANY balls either posting as an unidentifiable little ac troll worm... lol!

... apk

Good to hear

[Anonymous Coward]

There are a lot of problems / side effects / unintended consequences with advancing technology, but it's good to see some really beneficial gains like this.

On one hand, it will benefit a relatively small number of people. but on the other hand, it was basically assumed that not much could EVER be done for them, so being able to give them some kind of prosthetic mobility seems great.

Huzzah to the teams working on this