Researchers at Cambridge University are pioneering devices which could be used to diagnose and treat a range of disorders, including epilepsy and chronic pain – even the control of prosthetic limbs – by combining flexible electronics and soft robotics. The flexible devices can actually wrap around individual delicate nerve fibres without damaging them. Current tools for working with the peripheral nerves – the 43 pairs of motor and sensory nerves that connect the brain with the spinal cord – are outdated, bulky and carry a high risk of nerve injury.
However, the new robotic nerve “cuffs” are sensitive enough to do the job without that risk. Tests of the nerve cuffs in rats showed that the devices only require tiny voltages to change shape in a controlled way, without the need for stitches or glue. The researchers believe they pave the way for minimally invasive monitoring and treatment for a whole range of neurological conditions.
Cuffs can be used to either stimulate or block signals in target nerves. For example, they might help relieve pain by blocking pain signals, or they could be used to restore movement in paralysed limbs by sending electrical signals to the nerves. Current implants allow direct access to nerve fibres, but are risky.
“Nerve implants come with a high risk of nerve injury,” said Professor George Malliaras from Cambridge University’s Department of Engineering, who led the research. Nerves are small and highly delicate, so any time you .