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

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.