Researchers have developed tiny, flexible devices that can wrap around individual nerve fibers without damaging them.
The researchers combined flexible electronics and soft robotics techniques to develop the devices, which could be used for the diagnosis and treatment of a range of disorders, including epilepsy and chronic pain, or the control of prosthetic limbs.
Current tools for interfacing with the peripheral nerves -- the 43 pairs of motor and sensory nerves that connect the brain and the spinal cord -- are outdated, bulky and carry a high risk of nerve injury. However, the robotic nerve 'cuffs' developed by the Cambridge team are sensitive enough to grasp or wrap around delicate nerve fibres without causing any damage.
These implants allow direct access to nerve fibres, but they come with certain risks."Nerve implants come with a high risk of nerve injury," said Professor George Malliaras from Cambridge's Department of Engineering, who led the research."Nerves are small and highly delicate, so anytime you put something large, like an electrode, in contact with them, it represents a danger to the nerves.
The cuffs are small enough that they could be rolled up into a needle and injected near the target nerve. When activated electrically, the cuffs will change their shape to wrap around the nerve, allowing nerve activity to be monitored or altered. "Using this approach, we can reach nerves that are difficult to reach through open surgery, such as the nerves that control, pain, vision or hearing, but without the need to implant anything inside the brain," said Barone."The ability to place these cuffs so they wrap around the nerves makes this a much easier procedure for surgeons, and it's less risky for patients."
Neuroscience Brain-Computer Interfaces Medical Technology Engineering Energy Technology Neural Interfaces Robotics Artificial Intelligence
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