Paralysed man walks again after 12 years using device connecting brain to spine

Gert-Jan Oskam, a 40-year-old man who was paralysed in a cycling accident 12 years ago, is now able to walk again thanks to a new device called brain-spine interface (BSI), which connects his brain and spinal cord.

According to a study published on Wednesday in the journal, Nature, the brain-spine interface allows Gert-Jan Oskam to stand, walk, climb stairs and traverse complex terrains, just by thinking about it.

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“Within five to 10 minutes I could control my hips, like the brain implant picked up what I was doing with my hips so that was the best outcome I think for everyone,” Oskam said in a statement.

When Oskam thinks about walking, electrodes on his brain send a signal to electrodes on his spinal cord, stimulating the spine.

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This signal is wirelessly transmitted and decoded by a computer that Oskam wears in a backpack, which then transmits the information to the spinal pulse generator.

“Now I can just do what I want. When I decide to make a step the stimulation will kick in as soon as I think about it,” Oskam said.