Augmenting rehabilitation robotics with spinal cord neuromodulation: A proof of concept
Rehabilitation robotics aims to promote activity-dependent reorganization of the nervous system. However, people with paralysis cannot generate sufficient activity during robot-assisted rehabilitation and, consequently, do not benefit from these therapies. Here, we developed an implantable spinal cord neuroprosthesis operating in a closed loop to promote robust activity during walking and cycling assisted by robotic devices. This neuroprosthesis is device agnostic and designed for seamless implementation by nonexpert users. Preliminary evaluations in participants with paralysis showed that the neuroprosthesis enabled well-organized patterns of muscle activity during robot-assisted walking and cycling. A proof-of-concept study suggested that robot-assisted rehabilitation augmented by the neuroprosthesis promoted sustained neurological improvements. Moreover, the neuroprosthesis augmented recreational walking and cycling activities outdoors. Future clinical trials will have to confirm these findings in a broader population.
Authors
- Natacha Herrmann
- Rik Buschman
- Florian L. Haufe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8323-8513)
- Martina R. Spiess (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3945-0282)
- Margaux Roulet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9983-5706)
- Michele Xiloyannis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8415-7854)
- Fabien B. Wagner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9582-6109)
- Jocelyne Bloch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6405-1590)
- Robin Demesmaeker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0856-0929)
- Grégoire Courtine (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5744-4142)
- Nicolas Hankov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7112-0091)
- Salif Komi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2655-6213)
- Anne Watrin
- Timothy Denison (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5404-4004)
- Nicholas Buse (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1890-8334)
- Gleb Koginov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0701-2878)
- Dino De Bon
- Jaime E. Duarte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4919-290X)
- Joachim von Zitzewitz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4662-9088)
- Aurélie Paley
- Serena Maggioni
- Henri Lorach (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4337-2798)
- Robert Riener (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1726-2950)
- Jimmy Ravier
- Camille Varescon
- Cathal Harte
- Marina D’Ercole
- Edeny Baaklini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0942-0768)
- Auke Jan Ijspeert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1417-9980)
- Manon Tschopp
- Chiara Basla
- Hendrik Lambert
- Léonie Asboth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2414-9574)
- Sergio Daniel Hernandez‐Charpak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0477-8138)
- Miroslav Caban (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2627-4291)
- Grégoire Eberle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3396-547X)
- Charlotte Jacquet
- Katrien Van Den Keybus
- Francesco Acquati (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9537-400X)
- Nadine Intering (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1741-2178)
- Frédéric Merlos
- Sebastian Tobler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6934-0594)
- Anne Gehrig
Institutions
- University of Bern (CH)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Bern University of Applied Sciences (CH)
- Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss (CH)
- Université de Bordeaux (FR)
- ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences (CH)
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Tamedia (Switzerland) (CH)
- ETH Zurich (CH)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives (FR)
- Medtronic (United States) (US)
- Réseau Fribourgeois de Santé Mentale (CH)
- Hocoma (Switzerland) (CH)
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH)
- University of Lausanne (CH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science Robotics
- Published
- 2025-03-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.adn5564
- Citations
- 10
- Primary Topic
- Spinal Cord Injury Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 14.72