Amazing new spinal implant heals paralysis

For years researchers, doctors and scientists have tried to find a way to bring movement back to paralyzed patients. Recent progress has been made; flexible, soft spinal implants that send electrical signals are showing strong potential in healing paralysis, according to new studies.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - In previous studies, an implant similar to the new one was used in test rats to join together the two sides of the spinal cord. It worked and restored movement in legs, however, the rodents quickly suffered major spinal injuries, according to Geek.com.

The dura matter, a protective membrane covering the brain and spinal cord, could not handle the foreign material in the back for a long period of time.

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Scientists needed something softer and more flexible. This led the creation of e-dura, the new spinal implant that has proven more effective and longer lasting than the previous.

The rats this time around were fitted with the implant for long periods of time.

E-Dura "comprises a transparent silicone substrate patterned with microfluidic channels that deliver drugs, and soft electrodes made of platinum and silicone with stretchable gold interconnects that transmit and transfer electrical signals. Its material matches the shape and mechanical properties of the dura mater."

Ultimately, the e-Dura provides the signals that are initially missing in paralysis victims, according to Geek.com.

Scientists have high hopes for e-Dura, as it has potential to send chemicals to all areas of the body and therefore can be used for localized drug delivery very useful in long-term brain implants. Simply put, the e-Dura is a way of jumping neural signals from one place to another; there's no specific reason it needs only be applied to the spine, according to Geek.com.

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However, anything beyond what has been accomplished now with the test rats, is a long time from happening, if possible at all. "As much as this is a direct attempt to solve the paralysis, it is also a general ability to direct neural information precisely where we want it to go. How such an ability might be applied, I'd challenge anyone to predict," said Graham Templeton, of Geek.com.

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