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9 Out Of 10 Patients Walk Again In Some Form With Device, Therapy
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On average, it happens every hour of every day - someone suffers a
spinal cord injury** that can leave them paralyzed for life. An
innovative device from the Christopher Reeve Foundation is helping some
patients get out of their wheelchairs and back on their feet.
Aaron Wolfe has lived in this wheelchair for more than two years - ever
since a robber's bullet hit his spine and paralyzed his legs. Now he
spends every day trying to get out of it. Thanks to a new device, he's
doing it. Through the Dana and Christopher Reeve Foundation, Aaron is
undergoing therapy at Ohio State University Medical Center.
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New Technology Can Be Operated By Thought
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 Wadsworth Center scientists have succeeded in
developing a BCI that provided people who are severely disabled with
the ability to use their personal computers. For example, they were
able to word-process, send e-mail messages, and remotely turn on or off
the lights or TV in their homes. A laptop computer and cap allow for
portability and ease of use.
Neuroscientists have significantly advanced brain-machine
interface (BMI) technology to the point where severely handicapped
people who cannot contract even one leg or arm muscle now can
independently compose and send e-mails and operate a TV in their homes.
They are using only their thoughts to execute these actions.
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Paralyzed Golfer Gets High-Tech Help
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 Golf Tournament Raises Money For Spinal Cord Patients
Spinal cord injuries can be debilitating, but a Norwood man said recreation is still possible, and in some cases, vital.
NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that Jerry Donovan said a high-tech chair put him back on the golf course.
"My
golf games have gotten a lot better. Before I wasn't really paying
attention to my score. I buried a hole a couple of weeks ago in
Norwood, and it just changed my whole attitude," Donovan said.
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Walk proceeds buys equipment
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 More than $4,000 has been raised for spinal cord injury research and
quality of life projects through the different events that comprised
the fifth annual Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion experience.
The 2007 events were locally co-sponsored by Powell River Brain Injury
Society and Model Community Project for Persons with Disabilities
Society.
This year, the Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion organizers' goal is the
purchase of a standing frame to be stationed at the Powell River
Recreation Complex.
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THE HANDS OF AN ARTIST
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 The last thing Kevin
White remembers from the evening of his accident is the brilliant June
sky and thinking "what a beautiful sunset it would be."
That was back in 1984, when Kevin, just
nine credit hours short of his commercial art degree from Cuyahoga
Community College, suffered a spinal cord injury that left him a
quadriplegic confined to a wheelchair.
"A friend was driving the car," he says.
"We were just going home, and I just happened to be a passenger. I only
go by what they tell me, that we were blindsided by a drunk driver. No
one else got hurt out of that ... And that was that. We were almost
there, just three blocks from home."
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Robotic device helps stroke patients, study finds
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An electromyographically controlled robotic elbow brace being developed
by Myomo helped to improve arm function impaired by stroke, according
to results of a pilot study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
The initial prototype was developed by researchers at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA, and enabled paralyzed spinal
cord injury patients to move their arms. The researchers subsequently
founded Myomo, which is located in Boston, to commercially develop the
product.
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Andara OFS Therapy for Acute Spinal Cord Injury repair
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 We’ve written before about Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems’ BrainGate, a brain-implant device designed to control a computer, assistive devices and eventually, limb movement. The company’s focus
is neural stimulation, sensing and processing technology to improve the
lives of those with severe paralysis resulting from spinal cord
injuries, neurological disorders and other conditions of the nervous
system. Cyberkinetics' product development pipeline includes: Andara
OFS (Oscillating Field Stimulator) Therapy for acute spinal cord
injury, an investigative device designed to stimulate nerve repair and
restore sensation and motor function; the; and a pilot program in the
detection and prediction of seizures due to Epilepsy. Cyberkinetics has
now filed to market its Andara OFS Therapy for Acute Spinal Cord Injury
under Humanitarian Device Exemption.
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The Wii and an injured gamer — a happy follow-up
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 “Like many people with spinal-cord injuries that affect all four
limbs, Taft retains some use of his arms and hands. But it’s not
enough for effectively operating the typical two-hand game device.
He’s confident his relatively strong right hand will be able to
manipulate the new controller, which is part of the Revolution game
system that’s still under development by Nintendo.
’Video games have been a major factor in my life,'’ said
Taft, who has resolved to take the most optimistic approach possible to
his rehabilitation. ‘’I was eagerly hunting for some way to
get back into it.'’
This is sort of a “Hey, way to go, Nintendo'’ post. But
that’s secondary. This is the real point about the guy who said
he was going to take the most optimistic approach possible: Way to go,
Travis!
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GRAViTONUS Gaming System For Quadriplegics
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 Hardcore gamers, prepare to be jealous of the new gaming system for
the physically disabled. Gravitonus, a new medical device company from
Russia, is raking in the awards for their "Alternative Computer Control
System (ACCS)" designed to help paralyzed individuals control computers
and 'resume active lifestyles'.
Any person with physical disabilities is entitled to active interaction
with all aspects of social life, independent personal life,
self-determination, freedom of choice, as are all other human beings.
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O.T. "MacGyver" Makes Life Easier With Speedy Tools
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University of New Hampshire faculty member Therese Willkomm calls
herself “MacGyvette.” But Willkomm doesn't fight crime like
the resourceful 1980s television sleuth; rather, she fashions tools
from everyday objects that make life easier for people with
disabilities.
Willkomm, clinical assistant professor of occupational therapy and
director of ATinNH at the Institute on Disability at UNH, is a
specialist in assistive technology, which she describes as
“solutions for easier living, learning, working, and
playing.” And while the users of her solutions have some form of
disability - from an aching back to extensive paralysis - Willkomm's
work rarely deals with expensive wheelchairs, specialized computers or
complex communication systems. “Eighty percent of assistive
technology costs $100 or less,” she says.
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Adaptive Tech
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