An implant in the spine that the electrical impulses issuing may people who are paralyzed affected by a spinal cord injury to walk. The first steps for the development have been taken by demonstrating that the concept works in paralyzed rats.
In their research, provided by scientists from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne paralysed rats of an implant in the spinal cord was made. This so-called e-Dura can provide a similar structure on the soft tissue around the vertebrae it is located and is thus not noticed by the immune system, which rejection is prevented. A detailed account of the study has been published in the authoritative scientific journal Science.
The e-Dura is elastic and so can the movements of the spine, enabling it to remain in your seat. Meanwhile, the electrical impulses to be issued: because the nervous system via the spinal cord in the spine communicates with the electrical excitability can damaged neural pathways be restored, as is the idea. It is also possible to implant pharmacologically active substances to give: it is the idea neurotransmitters, which the damaged nerve cells need to activate.
The implant is constructed around a substrate of silicon that has been inlaid with stripes of gold that withstand stretching. The electrodes are made of so-called microbeads of silicon, and platinum. Finally, there are the microkanaaltjes that pharmacological substances can give. However, you should e-Dura can still be connected to an external source that the electrical impulses it generates: the implant led then the incentives to put them on the desired location.
According to scientists, is the implant successfully tested in the studied rats. In a study that a number of weeks, proved to be e-Dura is fine to function in the body. The paralyzed rats were able to even after a few weeks of training to walk again. In the time that the study ran, e-Dura is not disposed and remained on his place. There are, however, long-termijnsstudies need to find out more about to be able to say.
The concept would also in people able to work who are paralyzed affected by a spinal cord injury: in such a case, the neural pathways in the spinal cord are damaged causing electrical signals to the muscles in the legs not to achieve more. The implant would in addition also may be used in uncontrolled muscle movements in patients with Parkinson’s disease to address. Because e-Dura has not yet been tested on humans has yet to be seen whether and when the implant is in the practice. Clinical research is already in the planning, and there is also already thought about commercial applications.