Paralyzed Man Walks Again with AI: Fulfilling Dreams and Restoring Freedom
A groundbreaking achievement in medical technology has allowed a paralyzed man to walk again with the help of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system. Gert-Jan Oskam, supported by a walker, took several steps last week, courtesy of an AI system that translates his thoughts into leg movements. This incredible milestone marks the culmination of ten years of research conducted by Swiss scientists, who credit Oskam’s unwavering determination as a key factor in his success.
Oskam, a 40-year-old from the Netherlands, suffered a severe bicycle accident that left him paralyzed while working in Beijing in 2011. Devastated, he was told that he would never walk again. Spinal cord injuries often sever the connection between the brain and the part of the spinal cord responsible for controlling movement, resulting in paralysis. However, thanks to the pioneering work of neurosurgeons at Lausanne University Hospital, this previously accepted notion is being challenged.
The AI system developed by researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) acts as a digital bridge between Oskam’s brain and his legs. It involves two implants—one placed in the brain’s region responsible for leg movement, and another on the specific part of the spinal cord that controls leg movements. By converting brain signals into electrical stimulation of the spinal cord, the system activates the leg muscles, enabling the desired movements. Noël Keijsers, a senior researcher closely involved with Oskam’s journey, emphasizes the significance of finding the right candidate for the technology to work effectively.
To be accepted into the clinical trial, Oskam traveled alone from the Netherlands to Switzerland in 2017 to demonstrate his independence and suitability for the project. In the initial phase of the trial, Oskam received a strip of electrodes implanted in his lower back, which allowed him to stand and socialize with friends at a bar—a long-awaited dream come true. Oskam explains that sitting in a wheelchair made him feel excluded from conversations, and being able to stand and interact made a profound difference.
In the latest phase of the trial, which started in July 2021, Oskam received brain implants. Just two days after the surgery, he and the research team began teaching an AI system to decipher his thoughts. This enhanced technology provides Oskam with even greater control, allowing him to pause mid-stride or adjust the length of his steps merely by thinking. Besides granting him renewed freedom, the use of this revolutionary system has led to improvements in Oskam’s muscle condition, nerve function, coordination, and general movement. Remarkably, he can even stand and take steps when the AI system is switched off entirely.
Oskam’s progress is evident in his newfound ability to paint the walls of his home while standing. According to Professor Grégoire Courtine, the neuroscientist leading the research at the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, the level of recovery observed today was unimaginable fifteen years ago when he was conducting experiments on laboratory rats. Excitingly, the next phase of the research has already commenced, with four new patients undergoing surgery. Dave Marver, the CEO of Onward Medical, believes that within the next five to ten years, paralysis patients will no longer be told that walking is an impossibility.
The successful combination of AI and neuroscientific innovation gives hope to thousands of individuals suffering from spinal cord injuries or paralysis. The perseverance and determination of individuals like Gert-Jan Oskam, coupled with advancements in medical technology, pave the way for a future where mobility is restored, dream fulfillment becomes attainable, and the freedom to engage with the world is renewed.
