In a groundbreaking development at Cambridge University, a dedicated team of engineers, neuroscientists, and surgeons have created a state-of-the-art electronic device designed to revolutionize the treatment of spinal injuries. By wrapping this versatile device around the spinal cord, the research team has managed a two-fold achievement: recording nerve signals traversing between the brain and spinal cord, and simulating limb movements in cases where the normal brain-spinal cord communication pathway has been severed.
Explaining the vital nature of the spinal cord, Professor George Malliaras of the Department of Engineering, who took a leading role in the research, likened it to a highway for nerve impulses flowing between the brain and the rest of the body. He highlighted the catastrophic impact of spinal injury, which disrupts this critical pathway, often resulting in a permanent loss of sensory and motor capabilities. The innovative approach of the research involved encasing the spinal cord with extremely slim implants that can monitor activity without damaging nerve tissues.
This achievement marks the first time that a complete 360-degree scan of spinal cord activity could be safely conducted. Animal trials have demonstrated the successful use of these devices in prompting limb movement. Subsequent trials using human cadaver models have also indicated the potential for successful human application.
Source: The Mirror