MINE Lab technique enables four paraplegic patients to walk

spinal cord stimulation paraplegia rehabilitation neuromodulation epidural stimulation neuroprosthetics

Four patients with chronic, complete spinal cord injuries have regained the ability to stand and walk using a new epidural electrical stimulation technique. Developed by the MINE Lab—a collaboration between the Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna—the method utilizes voluntary trunk movements to control the stimulation.

Unlike other methods, this approach does not require brain implants or external sensors, instead using a commercially available spinal cord stimulator. Following four months of intensive rehabilitation, all participants were able to walk with a walker, navigating slopes and irregular surfaces. One participant walked 132 meters in 42 minutes, and three were able to stand while supporting themselves with only one hand.

Researchers Pietro Mortini and Silvestro Micera noted that the technique leverages preserved bodily functions to allow patients to actively participate in the walking process. Beyond physical mobility, clinicians reported improvements in the patients' psychological well-being.

Entities

MINE Lab · Med · Mine Laboratory · Pietro Mortini · Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna · Silvestro Micera · Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] Participants' Wischi II walking capacity scores increased from zero to nine. www.versiliatoday.it · www.pisanotizie.it
[● 4 SOURCES] The four study participants were all under the age of 35 with chronic, complete spinal cord injuries. altopascio.info · www.interris.it · www.pisanotizie.it · www.laverita.info
[● 4 SOURCES] The procedure utilizes a commercially available spinal cord stimulator rather than brain implants or external sensors. altopascio.info · www.interris.it · www.pisanotizie.it · www.laverita.info
[● 6 SOURCES] The method uses voluntary trunk movements to control electrical spinal cord stimulation. altopascio.info · www.versiliatoday.it · www.interris.it · www.pisanotizie.it · www.metropolitano.it · +1 more
[● 3 SOURCES] One participant successfully walked 132 meters in 42 minutes. www.versiliatoday.it · www.interris.it · www.pisanotizie.it
[● 5 SOURCES] Four paraplegic individuals regained the ability to stand and walk using a walker. altopascio.info · www.versiliatoday.it · www.interris.it · www.pisanotizie.it · www.metropolitano.it
[● 2 SOURCES] Pietro Mortini described the technique as an important step forward in neuromodulation. www.pisanotizie.it · www.laverita.info
[● 2 SOURCES] Silvestro Micera noted that the approach focused on fine-tuning trunk movement to help patients use it effectively. www.pisanotizie.it · www.laverita.info
[○ 1 SOURCE] Sandro Iannaccone reported improvements in patients' moods. www.laverita.info

Sources

Lesioni midollari, quattro pazienti tornano in piedi e camminano grazie alla stimolazione epidurale - Pisanews [www.pisanotizie.it]

10 days ago

Pisa, Micera (Sant’Anna): «Sogno di una vita» — 4 paraplegici camminano col tronco [altopascio.info]

10 days ago

Paralisi, la nuova frontiera è italiana. Quattro pazienti tornano a camminare [www.metropolitano.it]

10 days ago

Una lesione al midollo, poi il ritorno al cammino: la nuova frontiera della ricerca - Salute Versiliatoday. it [www.versiliatoday.it]

10 days ago

Lesioni del midollo spinale: le nuove prospettive della riabilitazione [www.interris.it]

10 days ago

Tornano a camminare quattro pazienti con lesioni al midollo: la tecnica nata in Italia — La Verità [www.laverita.info]

8 days ago