Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed small, flexible devices, combining electronics and soft robotics, to help treat a range of neurological conditions, including epilepsy and chronic pain.
Published in Nature Materials, the nerve cuff implant has the ability to change shape through electrical activation, opening up a variety of avenues for new, highly targeted treatment options.
Affecting more than three billion people worldwide, neurological disorders are conditions that affect the brain as well as the nerves found throughout the human body and spinal cord.
Currently, the tools for interfacing peripheral nerves are outdated, bulky and carry a high risk of nerve injury, according to the University of Cambridge.
“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,” explained professor George Malliaras, department of engineering, University of Cambridge.
Used to either stimulate or block signals in target nerves, the new robotic nerve ‘cuffs’ are sensitive enough to grasp or wrap around delicate nerve fibres without causing any damage as a minimally invasive monitoring and treatment alternative.
Made from conducting polymers that are commonly used in soft robotics, the ultra-thin cuffs are made up of two separate layers and apply small amounts of electricity, causing the device to either swell or shrink around the nerve, allowing nerve activity to be monitored or altered.
When tested in rats, the nerve cuffs only required tiny voltages to change shape in a controlled way, forming a self-closing loop around the nerves without the need for surgical sutures or glues.
“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,” said Dr Damiano Barone, department of clinical neurosciences, University of Cambridge.
Researchers aim to further test the devices using animal models and hope to begin human testing within the next few years.
