Latest news with #OnwardMedical
CBS News
11-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Trying to restore bodily functions after spinal cord injuries
Anderson Cooper: This week on 60 Minutes, we're doing a story about efforts to help people who are paralyzed with severe spinal cord injuries develop the ability to walk again. And not just walk again, but actually walk using their thoughts to control the movement of their limbs. Anderson Cooper: A French neuroscientist, Gregoire Courtine, and a Swiss neurosurgeon, Dr. Jocelyne Bloch, have been working together in their lab called NeuroRestore in Lausanne, Switzerland. And they have developed something they call a digital bridge. Dave Marver: So, if you have an injury, the communication between the brain and the spinal cord that controls movement and other functions, it's interrupted. Anderson Cooper: Dave Marver is the CEO of Onward Medical, which is a company that Dr. Bloch and Gregoire Courtine have formed to get this technology out of the lab, and into the marketplace Dave Marver: So, a digital bridge actually circumvents that injury. It sends signals wirelessly from the brain to the intact, healthy part of the spinal cord on the other side of the injury to enable a person to move or have other critical functions. Anderson Cooper: I think if you haven't experienced paralysis, you may think wanting to walk again, that's the number one thing. There's a whole range of issues which are really difficult for somebody who is paralyzed. Dave Marver: I think the public views walking again, as the top priority. It's well down the list. They want to go to the bathroom without inserting a catheter. They want sexual function back. They want to normalize their blood pressure, their body temperature. These are things that impact them every day for hours of every day. Blood pressure regulation's a big problem. So, what happens is, after a spinal cord injury, people often have very low blood pressure. It means that it's difficult for them to sit upright like this and have a conversation or have a meal with loved ones and friends without feeling faint. It can also take them an hour to just transition from bed to chair in the morning because they're continually feeling light-headed and faint. Jocelyne Bloch: To regulate the blood pressure, you need your nervous system, too, that is also going through the spinal cord. Gregoire Courtine: With the spinal cord stimulation, there is a very specific region of the spinal cord that we can target with the stimulation that is normally elevating blood pressure. So, we adapted our system to stimulate this region, and we are able to alleviate this hypotensive complication due to a spinal cord injury. And we are playing on the same principle for the improvement of the bladder function, which is a big problem for people with a spinal cord injury. Anderson Cooper: Spinal cord stimulators may show some promise in helping people with Parkinson's Disease. It's still very early clinical trials. But it's helping people regain a certain amount of mobility, which for people in later stages of Parkinson's can be a huge issue. Gregoire Courtine: In the case of people with Parkinson's disease, the brain sends crumbled signals, although the spinal cord is fully intact. So we thought, "Can we not use the same principle to activate the spinal cord, and this way regulate walking?" And it was absolutely incredible. The first observation, it's, like, you turn on the stimulation because the spinal cord's intact. The patient, with the stimulation, was walking almost normally. Anderson Cooper: Is that with the implant in the brain, or just the stimulation? Gregoire Courtine: In this case, it was only with the spinal cord stimulation. Anderson Cooper: I just want to make sure people know that there's a long way to go before something like this could be more widely accessible. But that is certainly the hope for Bloch and Courtine. Jocelyne Bloch: That would be success. Having the possibility to apply the therapy to many patients would be very nice. Gregoire Courtine: The hurdle now is primarily executing a clinical trial to show safety and efficacy, get approval by the FDA and the European Union and make sure that the therapy's not too complicated so that other centers can apply it to their patient. Jocelyne Bloch: The ideal world is simplicity. It should be very easy for any patient to use the therapy. Anderson Cooper: In an ideal scenario, what does this look like ten years from now? Dave Marver: What I'd like is for somebody with a spinal cord injury to be able to engage in a conversation or discussion with their doctor and identify what they want to see fixed or recovered. To be able to almost [have] a menu. "I want to restore my hand function. I want to normalize my blood pressure. I want to address my incontinence or sexual function." And our therapies will offer the opportunity to fix every one of those things. That's our vision. The video above was produced by Brit McCandless Farmer and edited by Scott Rosann.
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
‘Everyone cried': Paralysed woman describes walking after pioneering treatment
A woman who was paralysed as a result of an illness has described how 'everybody cried' when she was able to take her first steps following a pioneering treatment. Claire Trivedi received a type of spinal cord stimulation during a small clinical trial which enabled her to take a few steps using a walker. The 48-year-old from London was paralysed from the waist down in 2017 when a group of abnormal blood vessels in her spinal cord burst. The mother of two is one of 10 spinal cord injury patients who took part in a study assessing new stimulation technology. While taking part in the trial, she was able to restore some functions which were initially thought to be lost after her injury. The technology has been described as a 'hearing aid for the nervous system' and works by stimulating the 'dormant' spine below the patient's injury, combined with 'activity-based therapy'. Experts said the results of the small pilot study were 'game changing'. And Spinal Research chairwoman Tara Stewart said the study suggests 'it's now time to stop talking about spinal cord injury as being incurable'. Ten people aged between 21 and 68 with different levels of spinal cord injuries took part in the study, which has been published in the journal Neuromodulation: Technology At Neural Interface. All participants in the Pathfinder 2 trial, funded by Spinal Research, made significant improvements in their upper body strength, trunk control and balance. And some saw major gains in hand grip and dexterity and lower body functions after using Onward Medical's ARC-EX Therapy combined with rehabilitation. Patients took part in the study for more than a year at Neurokinex rehabilitation facilities in the UK and each had 120 sessions where they were given transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation. The technology delivers electrical pulses through the skin to stimulate the spinal cord which means that signals weakened or interrupted by a spinal cord injury can drive movement. It is coupled with intensive physical therapy, tailored to each patient. Some of those who took part in the trial saw bodily function return a decade after injury or illness. Researchers said that the improvements did not plateau, which suggests further benefits may be achieved with extended treatment. Ms Trivedi said: 'I was told my injury was complete and I just had to get used to my situation, but I refused to give up. 'I dreamed that one day I might take a few steps and my dream came true. 'About 10 weeks before I finished the trial, I took my first steps just using a walking frame, without any leg supports. Everyone cried. 'I was putting my all into the trial and was being rewarded. Even though it was really slow I could see improvements. My legs were getting stronger and I had hope. 'And although all the gains haven't continued, I definitely think the stimulation had a massive impact on my rehab and I can't wait for it to be licensed in the UK.' Ms Stewart added: 'This therapy is not a silver bullet – it works on spared spinal tissue so results will vary widely, and it does need to be paired with proper active rehabilitation over a consistent period of time. 'Even so, this is a game changing moment. It's now time to stop talking about spinal cord injury as being incurable and to stop telling people with this injury that nothing can be done.' Jenny Suggitt, co-investigator of the study, said: 'Participants who have completed the study at this point are seeing changes in their motor function – so their standing ability, walking, core control and sensation changes, as well as changes to their autonomic function – so bladder, bowel and sexual function. 'We are seeing recovery in participants who are over 10 years post injury, and they're regaining function that they never thought possible.' Co-investigator Jane Symonds said: 'Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation has been described a little bit like a hearing aid for the nervous system, so it's enhancing the signals that the nervous system is receiving. 'And so it's hoped that if somebody, for example, is trying to get some muscle activity in their legs to be able to stand or walk, that when the stimulation is in place, there is a greater level of excitability in the spinal cord, and therefore those nerve impulses are more likely to reach their target destination, and hopefully enable people to use those muscles. 'It has the potential to be a game changer and we're hoping that it's a real breakthrough for people with spinal cord injury.' Dave Marver, chief executive of Onward Medical, said the study 'provides critical insights to the spinal cord injury community, demonstrating that improvements resulting from ARC-EX Therapy extend for at least one year, with no observed plateau'. Harvey Sihota, founder and chief executive of Neurokinex, said: 'There is no doubt that spinal stimulation technology will take spinal cord injury rehab to the next level, bringing even more meaningful functional improvements that offer people greater independence.' Spinal Research is also funding three other UK studies involving use of implantable and external spinal cord stimulation systems. Ms Stewart said: 'With proper investment in the spinal research field we could see significant progress towards a cure for paralysis in the next five to seven years.'
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Everyone cried': Paralysed woman describes walking after pioneering treatment
A woman who was paralysed as a result of an illness has described how 'everybody cried' when she was able to take her first steps following a pioneering treatment. Claire Trivedi received a type of spinal cord stimulation during a small clinical trial which enabled her to take a few steps using a walker. The 48-year-old from London was paralysed from the waist down in 2017 when a group of abnormal blood vessels in her spinal cord burst. The mother of two is one of 10 spinal cord injury patients who took part in a study assessing new stimulation technology. While taking part in the trial, she was able to restore some functions which were initially thought to be lost after her injury. The technology has been described as a 'hearing aid for the nervous system' and works by stimulating the 'dormant' spine below the patient's injury, combined with 'activity-based therapy'. Experts said the results of the small pilot study were 'game changing'. And Spinal Research chairwoman Tara Stewart said the study suggests 'it's now time to stop talking about spinal cord injury as being incurable'. Ten people aged between 21 and 68 with different levels of spinal cord injuries took part in the study, which has been published in the journal Neuromodulation: Technology At Neural Interface. All participants in the Pathfinder 2 trial, funded by Spinal Research, made significant improvements in their upper body strength, trunk control and balance. And some saw major gains in hand grip and dexterity and lower body functions after using Onward Medical's ARC-EX Therapy combined with rehabilitation. Patients took part in the study for more than a year at Neurokinex rehabilitation facilities in the UK and each had 120 sessions where they were given transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation. The technology delivers electrical pulses through the skin to stimulate the spinal cord which means that signals weakened or interrupted by a spinal cord injury can drive movement. It is coupled with intensive physical therapy, tailored to each patient. Some of those who took part in the trial saw bodily function return a decade after injury or illness. Researchers said that the improvements did not plateau, which suggests further benefits may be achieved with extended treatment. Ms Trivedi said: 'I was told my injury was complete and I just had to get used to my situation, but I refused to give up. 'I dreamed that one day I might take a few steps and my dream came true. 'About 10 weeks before I finished the trial, I took my first steps just using a walking frame, without any leg supports. Everyone cried. 'I was putting my all into the trial and was being rewarded. Even though it was really slow I could see improvements. My legs were getting stronger and I had hope. 'And although all the gains haven't continued, I definitely think the stimulation had a massive impact on my rehab and I can't wait for it to be licensed in the UK.' Ms Stewart added: 'This therapy is not a silver bullet – it works on spared spinal tissue so results will vary widely, and it does need to be paired with proper active rehabilitation over a consistent period of time. 'Even so, this is a game changing moment. It's now time to stop talking about spinal cord injury as being incurable and to stop telling people with this injury that nothing can be done.' Jenny Suggitt, co-investigator of the study, said: 'Participants who have completed the study at this point are seeing changes in their motor function – so their standing ability, walking, core control and sensation changes, as well as changes to their autonomic function – so bladder, bowel and sexual function. 'We are seeing recovery in participants who are over 10 years post injury, and they're regaining function that they never thought possible.' Co-investigator Jane Symonds said: 'Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation has been described a little bit like a hearing aid for the nervous system, so it's enhancing the signals that the nervous system is receiving. 'And so it's hoped that if somebody, for example, is trying to get some muscle activity in their legs to be able to stand or walk, that when the stimulation is in place, there is a greater level of excitability in the spinal cord, and therefore those nerve impulses are more likely to reach their target destination, and hopefully enable people to use those muscles. 'It has the potential to be a game changer and we're hoping that it's a real breakthrough for people with spinal cord injury.' Dave Marver, chief executive of Onward Medical, said the study 'provides critical insights to the spinal cord injury community, demonstrating that improvements resulting from ARC-EX Therapy extend for at least one year, with no observed plateau'. Harvey Sihota, founder and chief executive of Neurokinex, said: 'There is no doubt that spinal stimulation technology will take spinal cord injury rehab to the next level, bringing even more meaningful functional improvements that offer people greater independence.' Spinal Research is also funding three other UK studies involving use of implantable and external spinal cord stimulation systems. Ms Stewart said: 'With proper investment in the spinal research field we could see significant progress towards a cure for paralysis in the next five to seven years.'
