全世界有大约1%的人是瘫痪者。人如果瘫痪了，会严重影响正常的生活，而且很难治好。近来，有人研究出了专用的外骨骼，它包在人体外面，由脑电波控制，能让瘫痪的人走起来。
A mind-controlled exoskeleton
by Jennifer Hahn
Researchers at the Clinatec laboratory in Grenoble, France have created an exoskeleton, which paralysed（瘫痪的） users can control with their mind in order to help them move both their arms and legs.
researcher /rɪˈsɜːtʃə(r)/ n. 研究者（由research加上表示人的后缀-er）
exoskeleton /ˌeksəʊˈskelɪt(ə)n/ n. 外骨骼、外骨架
control /kənˈtrəʊl/ v./n. 控制
The major innovation is not the exoskeleton itself, but an implant called the Wimagine, which can record and wirelessly transmit the patient's brain activity. Two of these are surgically（通过手术地） placed on the surface of the brain. Each comes with 64 electrodes（电极）, which are used to record the electrical activity in the brain that is tied to the wearer's intent to move.
major /ˈmeɪdʒə(r)/ adj. 主要的
innovation /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 创新
implant /ˈɪmplɑːnt/ n. 植入体内的东西（比如器官、心脏支架等）
record /rɪˈkɔːd/ v. 记录
wirelessly /ˈwaɪələsli/ adv. 无线地（由wire加上表示否定的后缀-less变成形容词wireless，再加上后缀-ly变成副词）
transmit /trænzˈmɪt/ v. 传送、输送
activity /ækˈtɪvəti/ n. 活动
place /pleɪs/ v. 放置
surface /ˈsɜːfɪs/ n. 表面
tie /taɪ/ v. 连接、联系
wearer /ˈweərə(r)/ n. 穿戴者（由wear加上表示人的后缀-er）
intent /ɪnˈtent/ n. 意图
The Wimagine, running on a remote power supply, can digitise this information and transfer it to a computer for decoding（解码）. Here, a sophisticated machine-learning algorithm（算法） deduces the intended movements behind this raw data – arm or leg, left or right, up or down. The algorithm is continually adapted to improve the accuracy of these decisions, based on the steady stream of new input received from the Wimagine.
run /rʌn/ v. 运作
remote /rɪˈməʊt/ adj. 远程的
supply /səˈplaɪ/ n. 供应
digitise /ˈdɪdʒɪtaɪz/ v. 数字化（指变成数字信号；由digit加后缀-ise变成动词）
transfer /trænsˈfɜː(r)/ v. 转移
sophisticated /səˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd/ adj. 复杂巧妙的
deduce /dɪˈdjuːs/ v. 推理、推断
movement /ˈmuːvmənt/ n. 移动（由move加后缀-ment变成名词）
raw /rɔː/ adj. 原始的、未加工的
data /ˈdeɪtə/ n. 数据
continually /kənˈtɪnjuəli/ adv. 持续不断地（由continual加后缀-ly变成副词）
adapt /əˈdæpt/ v. 适应
accuracy /ˈækjurəsi/ n. 准确度
based on 基于
steady /ˈstedi/ adj. 平稳的
stream /striːm/ n. 流、流入
input /ˈɪnpʊt/ n. 输入
An especially developed software is then able to use these instructions to actually control the exoskeleton in real-time. The technology is an advance on previous versions of an implant that links the nervous system to a computer, which have been limited to controlling the function of a single limb.
especially /ɪˈspeʃ(ə)li/ adv. 专门、特地
instruction /ɪnˈstrʌkʃ(ə)n/ n. 指令
real-time 实时的
advance /ədˈvɑːns/ n. 进步
version /ˈvɜːʃ(ə)n/ n. 版本
link /lɪŋk/ v. 连接
nervous /ˈnɜːvəs/ adj. 神经的
be limited to 局限于
function /ˈfʌŋkʃ(ə)n/ n. 功能
limb /lɪm/ n. 肢（胳膊或腿）
The 65-kilogram, four-limb exoskeleton was first tested on a 30-year-old tetraplegic（四肢瘫痪的） patient as part of a clinical study published in The Lancet medical journal. The Wimagines were implanted in his brain in June 2017 and in the 27 months since, he has had to train in order to be able to use the exoskeleton – first by controlling an avatar（化身） in a virtual environment and finally by moving the shell itself. After having no control over any of his four limbs, he is now able to take several successive steps, move both of his arms and rotate（转动） his wrists.
clinical /ˈklɪnɪk(ə)l/ adj. 临床的
publish /ˈpʌblɪʃ/ v. 发表
medical /ˈmedɪk(ə)l/ adj. 医学的
journal /ˈdʒɜːn(ə)l/ n. 期刊
implant /ɪmˈplɑːnt/ v. 把…植入体内（注意它做动词和做名词时发音不同）
virtual /ˈvɜːtʃuəl/ adj. 虚拟的
shell /ʃel/ n. 外壳
successive /səkˈsesɪv/ adj. 连续的
wrist /rɪst/ n. 手腕
For now, the exoskeleton can only be used in laboratory conditions, as it needs to be held up by a harness（背带） secured to the ceiling in order to minimise the risk of falling.
conditions /kənˈdɪʃ(ə)nz/ n. 环境
secure /sɪˈkjʊə(r)/ v. 栓牢、固定
minimise /ˈmɪnɪmaɪz/ v. 最小化、使最小
risk /rɪsk/ n. 风险
"This device is an important step forward in helping people with disabilities become self-sufficient," said Professor Alim-Louis Benabid, a neurosurgeon（神经外科医生） and lead author of the study. "We are extremely proud of this proof of concept and are already considering new applications to make everyday life easier for people with severe motor disabilities."
device /dɪˈvaɪs/ n. 设备、装置
disability /ˌdɪsəˈbɪləti/ n. 残疾、失能
self-sufficient 自立的
proof /pruːf/ n. 证明
concept /ˈkɒnsept/ n. 概念
application /ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 应用、运用
everyday /ˈevrideɪ/ adj. 日常的
severe /sɪˈvɪə(r)/ adj. 严重的
motor /ˈməʊtə(r)/ adj. 肌肉运动的、运动神经的
In the coming years, the team will work with three more patients to develop even more precise algorithms to interpret a larger volume of the brain's electrical signals at a faster pace.
precise /prɪˈsaɪs/ adj. 精确的
interpret /ɪnˈtɜːprɪt/ v. 解读
volume /ˈvɒljuːm/ n. 容量、量
signal /ˈsɪɡn(ə)l/ n. 信号
pace /peɪs/ n. 速度
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