Flexible circumferential bioelectronics to enable 360-degree recording and stimulation of the spinal cord

The spinal cord is essential for relaying motor and sensory signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Damage to the spinal cord can result in paralysis and other severe dysfunctions. The authors developed a flexible electronic device that wraps around the spinal cord. This device can simultaneously record and stimulate different regions of the spinal cord. The device was tested in rats, demonstrating its ability to capture motor and sensory signals, create a closed-loop system to bypass spinal cord injuries, and ensure the device's safety. The potential for human use was also shown using a cadaver model.

• 1
  The flexible device allows for targeted stimulation of specific motor movements in the lower limbs by stimulating different regions of the ventrolateral spinal cord.
• 2
  The circumferential placement of electrodes enables a comprehensive topographic representation of neural signal amplitudes, allowing for better differentiation of spinal cord activity.
• 3
  A low-latency electronic bypass system was created using the device to restore hindlimb motion in rats with acute spinal cord injury, outperforming the initial objective of equaling the spinal cord conduction latency.