Friday, September 25, 2015

Post #2: News in Technology

Technology is not only a component for phones and computers, nearly essential parts of our daily lives today. It can also change people’s lives in terms of health. A 26-year-old man was paralyzed five years ago and was finally able to take his first steps in five years on September 24, 2015 because of a technological advancement. The piece of technology is an electrical system that connects the legs and the brain, sidestepping the spinal cord. Bypassing the spinal cord is important because this man’s spinal cord is injured. The technology is not flawless yet, far from it, as it still has some obstacles to overcome. For one, scientists don’t know how it will affect other patients, and if it will work as effectively. It is not magic, either, as patients have to go through reconditioning to strengthen and prepare their muscles for the unfamiliar exertion of walking. The technology includes several pieces: a cap with electrodes, an amplifier in a backpack, a Parastep - which electronically stimulates the legs - and a belt containing a controller for the Parastep.

http://news.health.com/2015/09/24/paralyzed-man-walks-using-technology-that-bypasses-spinal-cord/

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