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Victorian quadriplegics first in the world to trial a ‘bionic spine’ technology powered by thought

Hailed the ‘holy grail for bionics’ neuroscientists have developed a paper-clip sized implant to give paralysed patients the ability to move robotic limbs through the power of thought.

Neurologist and University of Melbourne researcher Dr Thomas Oxley is developing on the revolutionary technology. Picture: Royal Melbourne Hospital
Neurologist and University of Melbourne researcher Dr Thomas Oxley is developing on the revolutionary technology. Picture: Royal Melbourne Hospital

The Royal Melbourne Hospital has developed the groundbreaking technology, and three Victorian quadriplegics will be the first human patients in the world to trial it.

Stroke and spinal cord injuries affect 20,000 Australians, with the typical patient a 19-year old male, according to the RMH.

The technology holds the potential for patients to overcome paralysis, by returning mobility and independence in stroke victims, people with cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, epilepsy, Parkinsons and other neurological disorders.

RMH neurologist and research fellow at the University of Melbourne, Dr Thomas Oxley, who convinced the US military to kickstart his idea in 2012 with $US1.3 million, said the concept was revolutionary.

The minimally invasive process involves implanting a 3cm long mesh stent, typically used to treat narrowed arteries, into a blood vessel in the brain.

The concept of implanting a ‘stentnode’ is similar to a cardiac pacemaker, where electrical interaction with tissue is achieved using sensors inserted into a vein, but inside the brain.

The electrode self-expands to stick to the inside wall of a vein, bypassing the damaged area, to capture brain activity and translate it into a usable commands to control wheelchairs, exoskeletons, prosthetic limbs or computers.

The electrode translates brain messages. Picture: Royal Melbourne Hospital
The electrode translates brain messages. Picture: Royal Melbourne Hospital

It is capable of recording brainwave activity over a long period, without the need for open brain surgery.

Unlike the more invasive brain recording methods, where the signal worsens over time as the brain reacts to it as foreign, the stentnode’s signal quality improved over time as the electrodes became engrafted onto the blood vessel wall.

“In our first-in-human trial, that we anticipate will begin within two years, we are hoping to achieve direct brain control of an exoskeleton for three people with paralysis,” Dr Oxley said.

Implanting the 3cm long stent is far less invasive than open brain surgery. Picture: Royal Melbourne Hospital
Implanting the 3cm long stent is far less invasive than open brain surgery. Picture: Royal Melbourne Hospital

The device, which expands to be 3cm long with 12 electrodes, was implanted in sheep for more than six months.

University of Melbourne biomedical engineer Dr Nick Opie designed the device, and started the Vascular Bionics Laboratory with Dr Oxley at the RMH with researchers from the university and Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health.

Their work, published today in the journal Nature Biotechnology, showed they could capture the same quality brain activity recording through their minimally-invasive blood-vessel implant compared with open brain surgery.

Professor Terence O’Brien, Head of the Department of Medicine at the RMH, called the stentrode technology the ‘holy grail for bionics’.

“The part of the brain that died in the stroke doesn’t regrow, instead other parts learn to take over that function,” Prof O’Brien said.

The first in-human trial is expected to start next year.