Lightweight, Battery-Free Neural Prosthesis Improves Walking Mobility in Stroke Survivors
Researchers in Hong Kong and mainland China develop a device powered by the wearer's own movements to stimulate muscles.
Quick Look
Scientists developed a lightweight, battery-free neural prosthesis that uses energy from a wearer's movements to electrically stimulate muscles, improving walking mobility in stroke survivors.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Researchers developed a battery-free neural prosthesis to assist stroke survivors and people with walking difficulties.
Scientists have developed a lightweight, battery-free device that could help improve the mobility of people with difficulty walking, such as stroke survivors.
Developed by researchers in Hong Kong and mainland China, the neural prosthesis uses energy generated by the wearer’s own movements to electrically stimulate their muscles, helping to flex their ankle and restore their natural walking pattern.
“Rather than relying on external sensors or battery-powered control, the device operates automatically during walking through mechanically coupled energy harvesting and stimulation delivery,” the team said in a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications on September 2.
Requiring just a few steps to power up, the device helped increase stride length and walking speed in stroke survivors during both indoor treadmill trials and outdoor walking tests.
Open Questions
- When will the device be available commercially?
- What are the manufacturing costs?
