VOA健康报道2022--人造脊髓植入物有望使瘫痪者恢复行走

Study: Spinal¹ Cord Implant² Helps Paralyzed People Walk Again

Researchers say a new electrical device placed in three paralyzed patients has helped them walk again.

The lower bodies of the three patients were left paralyzed after they suffered spinal cord injuries. But a device implanted in the spinal cord was able to send electrical signals to the muscles to permit them to stand, walk and exercise.

The device is designed to copy an action of the brain, in which it sends signals to the spinal cord that result in muscle movement. When the spinal cord receives the brain signals, it stimulates⁴ a collection of nerve cells that can activate⁵ different muscles.

In patients with serious spinal cord injuries, messages from the brain have difficulty reaching the nerves. But scientists have discovered that neurons – which receive and send signals for muscle movements – often still work in injured patients.

Past research into spinal cord injuries has centered on the use of electrical devices to stimulate³ neurons, the publication Nature reports.

Grégoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne led the latest experiments. The results were published in a study in Nature Medicine.

The experiments involved three men who had been injured in motor bike accidents. The patients ages were 29-, 32- and 41-years-old. Their injuries were to an area called the thoracic spine⁶, which is below the neck and above the lowest part of the back.

The researchers reported that all three patients who got the spinal cord implants⁷ were able to take their first steps within an hour after receiving them.

Over the next six months, the patients regained⁹ the ability to take part in more advanced walking activities, the study found. They were also able to ride bicycles and swim in community settings. The individuals can control the nerve-stimulation devices themselves by using a personal electronic device, the researchers said.

Michel Roccati, from Italy, is one of the patients. He told reporters that the first step he took while using the device was "a very emotional experience." Roccati added that he can now stand for several hours and walk nearly a kilometer.

Other researchers have attempted to help paralyzed patients walk by stimulating¹⁰ nerves through the back of the spine. But the Federal Institute of Technology's Courtine told Reuters that his team redesigned the devices so signals would enter the spine from the sides. This method permits more direct targeting and activation¹¹ of spinal cord areas, he said.

The team then developed artificial intelligence (AI) systems linked to the device. The AI controls electrodes on the device to send signals to stimulate individual nerves that control muscles needed for walking and other activities.

When the device was implanted, patients could "immediately activate their legs and step," said researcher Jocelyne Bloch.

However, because the patients' muscles were weak from not being used, they needed help with supporting their weight, the researchers said. It also took some time for them to learn to work with the technology.

Even though the patients have the ability to perform several kinds of activities, the team said they did not regain⁸ completely natural movements. Still, Bloch said, "The more they train, the more they start lifting their muscles, the more fluid it becomes."

Roccati said he activates¹² the implant daily at home and continues to get stronger. "I see the improvement every day," he said, adding, "I feel better when I use it."

Words in This Story

paralyzed – adj. unable to move part of the body such as arms or legs

implant – v. to place something into someone's body in a medical operation

stimulate – v. to make something happen or develop more

advanced – adj. having developed or progressed to a late stage

artificial intelligence – n. an area of computer science that deals with giving machines the ability to seem like they have human intelligence

electrode – n. a conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an object, substance or region

1 spinal   

adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的

参考例句：

• After three days in Japan,the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.在日本三天，就已经使脊椎骨变得富有弹性了。
• Your spinal column is made up of 24 movable vertebrae.你的脊柱由24个活动的脊椎骨构成。

2 implant   

vt.注入，植入，灌输

参考例句：

• A good teacher should implant high ideals in children.好教师应该把高尚理想灌输给孩子们。
• The operation to implant the artificial heart took two hours.人工心脏植入手术花费了两小时。

3 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

4 stimulates   

v.刺激( stimulate的第三人称单数 )；激励；使兴奋；起兴奋作用，起刺激作用，起促进作用

参考例句：

• Exercise stimulates the body. 运动促进身体健康。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Alcohol stimulates the action of the heart. 酒刺激心脏的活动。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 activate   

vt.使活动起来，使开始起作用

参考例句：

• We must activate the youth to study.我们要激励青年去学习。
• These push buttons can activate the elevator.这些按钮能启动电梯。

6 spine   

n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊

参考例句：

• He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
• His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。

7 implants   

n.（植入身体中的）移植物( implant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters. 激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Perhaps the most far-reaching project is an initiative called Living Implants From Engineering (LIFE). 也许最具深远意义的项目，是刚刚启动的建造活体移植工程 (LIFE)。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 医学的第四次革命

8 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

9 regained   

复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。

10 stimulating   

adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的

参考例句：

• shower gel containing plant extracts that have a stimulating effect on the skin 含有对皮肤有益的植物精华的沐浴凝胶
• This is a drug for stimulating nerves. 这是一种兴奋剂。

11 activation   

n. 激活，催化作用

参考例句：

• A computer controls the activation of an air bag.电脑控制着气囊的启动。

12 activates   

使活动，起动，触发( activate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Activates the window and displays it in its current size and position. 激活窗口，保持当前的大小及位置不变。
• Pulling out the alarm switch activates alarm and pushing it deactivates it. 闹钟的开和关是通过拔出和按入闹铃开关实现的。