VOA常速英语2014--Spinal Implant Helps Paraplegics Regain Some Functions 脊椎植入装置改变瘫痪者生活

 

Spinal¹ Implant² Helps Paraplegics Regain³ Some Functions 脊椎植入装置改变瘫痪者生活

Severe spinal cord injuries usually lead to total loss of control of lower extremities⁴, as well as bladder, bowel⁵ and sexual functions. But scientists at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, say an implanted electrical device is helping⁷ the patients regain at least some of that control.

严重的脊髓损伤通常会导致人的下肢完全失去控制，而且会影响膀胱、肠子和性功能。但是美国肯塔基州路易斯维尔大学的科学家们说，植入一个电装置，能帮助病人恢复至少部分控制。

A dirt bike accident five years ago left Ken⁶ Stephenson paralyzed from the chest down. Doctors told him that he would never be able to stand up again.

五年前，斯蒂芬森骑越野车的时候发生意外，导致胸部以下瘫痪。医生告诉他，他永远都不能再站立了。

“They said, based on what they've diagnosed and how I broke my back and everything, that I wouldn't be able to move my legs again or feel anything ever again,” said Stephenson.

“他们说，根据他们的诊断和我脊背受伤的情况，我永远都不能移动我的腿了，下肢不会再有感觉了。”

Another blow to the young man was the loss of sexual function.

对这个年轻人的另一个打击是，他失去了性功能。

Now, however, thanks to a small device implanted in his back that electrically stimulates⁹ his spinal cord, Stephenson has regained¹⁰ some ability to enjoy activities he thought were left behind forever.

可是现在，因为在背部植入了一个小装置，用电流刺激他的脊髓，斯蒂芬森恢复了部分活动能力。过去他以为这再也不可能了。

Dr. Roderic Pettigrew, of the National Institutes of Health, explained, “The goal was to modulate¹¹ those damaged nerves in the spinal cord so that they once again could, would, become receptive to stimuli¹².”

美国国家卫生研究院的彼提格鲁医生作出了解释： “我们的目标是，调节脊髓内受损的神经。让它们恢复接受刺激的能力。”

The stimulator¹³ is turned on with a remote control and allows Stephenson to move one leg at the time. Other functions improved, too.

刺激是遥控开启的，让斯蒂芬森能够每次动一条腿。其他的功能也改善了。

“The sexual function thing was huge for me because it was basically nothing before and, I mean, now, like, it's a lot better,” said Stephenson.

斯蒂芬森说：“性功能对我非常重要。以前一点都没有，现在好多了。”

Three other patients reported similar improvements, although none of them can walk.

其他三位病人也报告了类似的改善。但是他们都还不能走路。

Pettigrew stresses that the device is not a cure and that more research is needed before it can be widely available. He said a spinal cord injury, though, may no longer mean a lifelong sentence of paralysis¹⁴.

彼提格鲁医生强调，新装置不能治愈瘫痪，还需要更多研究，才能够推广。但是他说，脊髓损伤可能不再意味着终生瘫痪了。

“What we see today with these four individuals now being able to have voluntary motion and voluntary control of their limbs and involuntary control of functions like bladder and bowel is very exciting,” said Pettigrew.

“我们今天看到的是，四位病人都能做自主活动，自主控制肢体，还有对膀胱和肠子功能的非自主控制，这令人兴奋。”

Researchers now plan to implant the device in eight more patients and try to stimulate⁸ more than one muscle group at the time.

 

现在研究人员计划在其他八名病人身上植入新装置，试图每次刺激一组以上的肌肉群。

1 spinal   

adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的

参考例句：

• After three days in Japan,the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.在日本三天，就已经使脊椎骨变得富有弹性了。
• Your spinal column is made up of 24 movable vertebrae.你的脊柱由24个活动的脊椎骨构成。

2 implant   

vt.注入，植入，灌输

参考例句：

• A good teacher should implant high ideals in children.好教师应该把高尚理想灌输给孩子们。
• The operation to implant the artificial heart took two hours.人工心脏植入手术花费了两小时。

3 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

4 extremities   

n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地

参考例句：

• She was most noticeable, I thought, in respect of her extremities. 我觉得她那副穷极可怜的样子实在太惹人注目。 来自辞典例句
• Winters may be quite cool at the northwestern extremities. 西北边区的冬天也可能会相当凉。 来自辞典例句

5 bowel   

n.肠(尤指人肠)；内部，深处

参考例句：

• Irritable bowel syndrome seems to affect more women than men.女性比男性更易患肠易激综合征。
• Have you had a bowel movement today?你今天有排便吗？

6 ken   

n.视野，知识领域

参考例句：

• Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
• Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

9 stimulates   

v.刺激( stimulate的第三人称单数 )；激励；使兴奋；起兴奋作用，起刺激作用，起促进作用

参考例句：

• Exercise stimulates the body. 运动促进身体健康。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Alcohol stimulates the action of the heart. 酒刺激心脏的活动。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

10 regained   

复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。

11 modulate   

v.调整，调节(音的强弱)；变调

参考例句：

• Please modulate the sound on the TV.请调节一下电视的音量。
• This system could modulate the voice signal effectively.这个系统可以对语音信号进行有效的调制。

12 stimuli   

n.刺激（物）

参考例句：

• It is necessary to curtail or alter normally coexisting stimuli.必需消除或改变正常时并存的刺激。
• My sweat glands also respond to emotional stimuli.我的汗腺对情绪刺激也能产生反应。

13 stimulator   

n.刺激物，刺激者

参考例句：

• Men also have hair dryers and, if they suffer from baldness, they use a growth stimulator, buy hairpieces, or have hair transplanted from the hirsute part of the scalp to the bare areas. 男士也有他们的吹风机，而且如果他们秃顶的话，还会用毛发生长剂、买假发，或者把头发从密集的地方移植到谢顶的地方。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Objective To design electrical stimulator for epileptic rats experiment based on MSP430. 目的：设计基于MSP430的用于大鼠癫痫实验的电刺激器。 来自互联网

14 paralysis   

n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)

参考例句：

• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。