Stretchy spinal implant presents new paralysis treatment

A thin and flexible implant that can be applied directly to the surface of the spinal cord to administer electrical and chemical stimulation has been developed by scientists in Switzerland. The e-Dura implant, made from a silicon substrate embedded with electrodes, replicates the properties of the soft living tissue around the spinal cord; meaning it can remain in situ without discomfort.

In 2012 the researchers showed how electrical-chemical stimulation could restore lower body movement in rats with spinal cord injuries. They showed that a severed section of the spinal cord can regain its use when a rat's innate intelligence and regenerative capacity is awakened with a treatment of chemicals. The scientists then stimulated the spinal cord with electrodes implanted in the outermost layer of the spinal canal, called the epidural space. They found that a stimulated rat spinal column, physically isolated from the brain, started taking over the task of modulating leg movement, allowing previously paralyzed rats to walk, albeit involuntarily.