Research: Spinal implants may help paralyzed people walk back [Read]

3 years ago, scientists at the Federal Institute of Technology Switzerland ( EPFL ) has successfully helped mice with spinal cord injuries can
step back and today, EPFL has developed adevice implanted with advanced plastic potential use in humans.

In previous studies, the mice were injected with the chemical replacement of nerve impulse conduction that we can not move two hind legs. Then, electrical stimulation is transmitted to the spinal cord below the cut position and EPFL had electrodes implanted in the outermost layer of the spinal canal at this location.

The result is that the rats were able to move back 2 legs but can not master. After a period of training, they already know how to activate the electrical impulses in the brain and to walk or run at will though need the support of the external bracket. Finally, mice begin to form new neural connections between the brain and spine, gradual recovery in spinal cord injury.

Although EPFL hope that this technology can be used in an artificial neural system recovery for humans but is still a major obstacle hit the implants. We do not have enough softness and ductility comparable biological tissues around. Over time, the implant can cause irritation, inflammation, formation of scar tissue and the body was eventually eliminated.

Now, scientists at EPFL has created a new type of implantable devices can overcome the above problems. The device is named e-Dura and it is designed to implant the spinal cord or brain cortex below the display hardware - the protective layer around nerves.

Implanted device includes a silicon substrate coated plastic in addition to gold wires connected to the electrodes are made of synthetic material silicon / platinum. The electrodes transmit an electrical current and could identify the electrical impulses in the brain. In addition, the microfluidic channels in the substrate are capable of chemical transmission.

All components are operating normally while the device has high ductility can stretch and deform corresponding to the dura of the brain. In the experiments, e-Dura was implanted in mice showed that it does not cause any problems after 2 months while the conventional implants can cause nerve damage in the same testing period.

Scientists are now looking forward to experimenting on people and commercialize e-Dura. Detailed report on the study was published in the journal Science .