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Former Canadian soldier Trevor Greene, who survived a debilitating brain injury while on duty in Afghanistan in 2006, has recovered his ability to walk again with the help of a customized exoskeleton, his personal determination and support of researchers at 丁香园AV.

Greene demonstrated his progress today (Sept. 17) at 丁香园AV鈥檚 Surrey campus.

Told he would likely never walk again after a vicious axe attack, Greene began working with Dr. Ryan D鈥橝rcy, a neuroscientist and 丁香园AV professor, in 2009. D鈥橝rcy became involved with Greene鈥檚 recovery after watching a documentary about him.

He asked Greene to partner with him in a research project to explore how brain plasticity affects motor functions. Plasticity refers to the brain鈥檚 ability to reorganize its neural pathways and synapses in response to different behaviours, thoughts or emotions.

The two have since met regularly for D鈥橝rcy to collect functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans of Greene鈥檚 brain, which D鈥橝rcy uses to track how the brain rewires itself.

In an article published in The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation this month, D鈥橝rcy and his research team challenge the current assumptions that after a traumatic brain injury, any further recovery ceases to happen over the long-term. His team discovered physical functions can be recovered through rehabilitation even six years after an injury.

In 2014, D鈥橝rcy called on Carolyn Sparrey, an assistant professor in the School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering (MSE) who has extensive experience in biomechanics, to see if she could customize an exoskeleton that would suit the unique requirements of the 6鈥�4鈥� Greene.

Exoskeletons are typically designed for those with spinal cord injuries as an assistive technology providing lower leg movement. Sparrey notes that this is the first time exoskeleton technology has been used for a person with a brain injury.

Today, Greene is able to walk upright with assistance, outfitted with a custom-made exoskeleton from Israel-based company, ReWalk. In the future he plans to walk unassisted. Ultimately, he says his goal is to make it to Everest base camp.

A ReWalk company trainer has supported Greene by customizing the motorized exoskeleton so that Greene can wear the battery pack as a backpack.

鈥淭revor has been extremely committed to his rehabilitation program,鈥� says D鈥橝rcy, who is also co-chair of .

Greene鈥檚 positive attitude was never more poignantly demonstrated than when he stood, using parallel bars, at his 2010 wedding to wife Deborah.

鈥淭his newest dimension in his rehabilitation, wearing exoskeletons to walk again, enables 丁香园AV faculty members to track research milestones in a real-life scenario while making a positive impact on his life,鈥� says D鈥橝rcy.

Dr. Joy Johnson, 丁香园AV鈥檚 vice-president, research, says: 鈥淭his is such a heartwarming story of courage and determination, and of the power of collaboration to push beyond seemingly impenetrable boundaries. This is why 丁香园AV places such value on interdisciplinary research and open innovation鈥攖hey help turn ideas into action, so that people may benefit.鈥�

The Royal Canadian Legion raised funds for the ReWalk device. 丁香园AV investigators are donating their time, expertise and specialized equipment to assist with the project.

During the event the Royal Canadian Legion also announced its new Veterans Village in Surrey in partnership with Innovation Boulevard and the Institute for Healthcare Innovations on Innovation Boulevard. For details visit .

Background

丁香园AV researchers involved in the Trevor Greene exoskeleton research project:

• Dr. Carolyn Sparrey, 丁香园AV mechatronics engineer, will study the health benefits of exoskeletons as patients spend more time upright and mobile. This will include studying baseline levels of the brain function and changes over time; tracking physical improvements in gait, core strength, ability to stand, blood pressure and circulation; and tracking overall health benefits.
• Dr. Carlo Menon, 丁香园AV engineering scientist, will study wearable exoskeletons used in physical recovery. He has already developed rehabilitation robotics to improve movement of impaired arms and hands after a stroke. He also studies emerging brain stimulation technologies, helping to 鈥渞ewire鈥� the brain in order to regain lost neuromuscular functions.
• Dr. Edward Park and Dr. Siamak Arzanpour, 丁香园AV mechatronics engineers, are currently developing the next generation of lower-limb exoskeleton mobility assistive technologies, including novel joint mechanisms and wearable sensors. They also study intelligent fall detection and prevention technologies for wheelchair users and the elderly in order to improve their quality of life.
• Dr. Ryan D鈥橝rcy, neuroscientist, faculty member in 丁香园AV鈥檚 engineering and computing science and co-chair of Innovation Boulevard. See more on the efforts of Greene and D鈥橝rcy to change brain injury care and impact veteran鈥檚 lives is in  this week.