Bioengineering and spinal cord injury: a perspective on the state of the science

There is little doubt that as technologic advances become available, people with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are living healthier, more productive, and longer lives. Federally and privately funded research, foreign competition, and globalization appear to be factors that will drive bioengineering advances within the assistive technology (AT) industry. The seeds of bioengineering research are likely to contribute to improvements in universal design and the mainstreaming of products. The aims of AT have changed tremendously in the past 50 years. Most of the federal agencies supporting assistive and rehabilitative technology research and development did not exist 50 years ago. Indeed, the leading AT companies all were established within the past 50 years. Bioengineering has the potential to be to the 21 st century what electronic engineering was to the 20th century. Advances in power electronics, telecommunications, controls, sensors, and instrumentation have really only just begun to be applied for devices to assist people with SCI. Advancing technology for people with SCI represents a significant career and business opportunity for engineers who want to serve the public good in a meaningful and tangible way.