ONWARD Medical N.V., the medical technology company creating modern spinal cord stimulation therapies to revive movement, function, and independence in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), today broadcasts a publication in Nature showing that a wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) can use thought to modulate ARC Therapy. Researchers reported that when paired with ARC Therapy, an implanted BCI allowed a person to realize augmented control over when and the way he moved his paralyzed legs.

This publication shows the remarkable potential of ARC Therapy to be enhanced with the introduction of a BCI, facilitating more natural movement based on the thoughts of an individual living with paralysis. We’ve positioned ONWARD as a pacesetter within the BCI field with our unique understanding of spinal cord stimulation for individuals with SCI.”

Dave Marver, CEO, ONWARD.

The BCI establishes a continuous link between movement intentions and spinal cord stimulation, allowing for more natural restoration of mobility. I look ahead to working with the ONWARD team to advance this necessary recent technology.”

Grégoire Courtine, Neuroscientist and Professor, EPFL, and Co-author of the Nature Paper.

The information published today are a part of an ongoing clinical feasibility study investigating the protection and preliminary effectiveness of brain-controlled spinal cord stimulation after SCI. The study is being coordinated by .NeuroRestore co-Directors – Grégoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch, a neurosurgeon at Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) – in addition to Guillaume Charvet, Head of the Medical Device Development Lab at CEA-Leti / Clinatec.

All ONWARD devices and therapies, including but not limited to ARC-IM, ARC-EX, and ARC Therapy, are investigational and never available for industrial use.

Source:

Journal reference:

Lorach, H., et al. (2023). Walking naturally after spinal cord injury using a brain–spine interface. Nature. doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06094-5.