You Will Grasp Again: A Direct Spinal Cord/Computer Interface with the Spared Motor Neurons Restores the Dexterous Control of the Paralyzed Hand after Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

• DOI: 10.1101/2022.09.09.22279611
• Publication Date: 2022-09-10T23:55:10Z
• Authors: Daniela Souza Oli...; Matthias Ponfick; Dominik I. Braun; Marius Osswald; Marek Sierotowicz; Satyaki Chatterjee; Douglas Weber; Bjoern Eskofier; Claudio Castellini; Dario Farina; Thomas Mehari Kinfe; Alessandro Del Ve...
• Keywords: Tetraplegia; Motor Control; Motor unit

The paralysis of the muscles controlling hand dramatically limits quality life individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, we present a non-invasive neural interface technology that will change lives cervical SCI (C4-C6). We demonstrate eight motor- and sensory-complete (C5-C6, n = 7; C4, 1) are still able to task-modulate in real-time activity populations motor neurons spared corticospinal pathways. In all tested patients, identified groups units under voluntary control encoded variety movements. unit discharges were mapped into more than 10 degrees freedom, ranging from grasping individual digit flexions extensions. then dynamics controlled virtual hand. patients match cue posture by proportionally four freedom (opening closing index flexion/extension). These results wearable muscle sensors provide access voluntarily complete individuals.