Apr 26 2024University of Cambridge Researchers have developed tiny, flexible devices that can wrap around individual nerve fibers without damaging them.
Tests of the nerve cuffs in rats showed that the devices only require tiny voltages to change shape in a controlled way, forming a self-closing loop around nerves without the need for surgical sutures or glues. These implants allow direct access to nerve fibers, 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.
Related Stories"To ensure the safe use of these devices inside the body, we have managed to reduce the voltage required for actuation to very low values," said Dr Chaoqun Dong, the paper's first author. "What's even more significant is that these cuffs can change shape in both directions and be reprogrammed. This means surgeons can adjust how tightly the device fits around a nerve until they get the best results for recording and stimulating the nerve.
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