Paralyzed Woman Walks Again Using Brain-Spine Tech

Marta Carsteanu-Dombi, once a fit athlete, was paralyzed in a 2018 Ironman race after a devastating bike crash that left her with a severe spinal cord injury, broken ribs, and punctured lungs. Doctors told her she’d never walk again. However, a groundbreaking clinical trial in Switzerland using a “digital bridge” gave her new hope. This technology wirelessly links a brain implant to a spinal cord stimulator, allowing patients to move paralyzed limbs with their thoughts.

Developed by neuroscientist Gregoire Courtine and neurosurgeon Dr. Jocelyne Bloch at NeuroRestore in Lausanne, the system uses a skull-implanted device with 64 electrodes that record brain signals. These signals are processed by AI and sent to a spinal stimulator, triggering leg or arm movement. Patients train their minds to generate consistent thoughts for movement, and the system responds in under a second.

Carsteanu-Dombi was the most severely paralyzed participant. After only two days of training, she managed to take assisted steps using the digital bridge, despite lacking any sensation below her waist. While this doesn’t fully restore her previous life, standing up to hug loved ones is deeply meaningful to her.

Other participants, like Dutch man Gert-Jan Oskam, have also shown success, walking up to 450 feet. Swiss journalist Arnaud Robert, paralyzed from the neck down, regained some use of his left hand after eight months of training.

Surprisingly, patients showed some improvement even without the device on, suggesting the technology may promote nerve regeneration. Animal studies confirmed new nerve growth in specific neurons associated with spinal repair.

Although more research is needed, and widespread clinical use is years away, the digital bridge—designated a breakthrough device by the FDA—offers real hope. Carsteanu-Dombi now dreams of walking through a park with her family, even if just for a few steps.