Johns Hopkins University scientists have developed a new spine stimulator that could help restore lower extremity function in paralyzed patients. The small device can be implanted non-invasively using a syringe.

Spinal cord injuries interrupt the flow of electrical signals from the brain to the lower parts of the body, reducing mobility and, in severe cases, leading to complete paralysis. Spinal cord stimulators are devices that can be surgically implanted into a patient’s spine to bypass the area of ​​injury and restore some mobility. Unfortunately, they are often bulky, require surgery, and have accuracy issues.

For the new study, the Johns Hopkins team developed a much smaller device that is flexible and stretchable. It is placed in a different location than other stimulators; Not only is it positioned on the ventrolateral epidural surface, close to the motor neurons for better accuracy, but it can also be easily inserted into the area with a regular syringe without surgery. Tests on paralyzed mice were promising.

“Using this new technology in a mouse model, we triggered leg movements with an electrical current almost twice lower than that used in traditional back stimulation,” said Dinchang Lin, lead author of the study. “Our stimulator not only provided a greater range of motion, but also allowed us to program the stimulation pattern of the electrode array, resulting in more complex and natural leg movements resembling steps, kicks, and swings.”

The team says the device could eventually help restore motor function in patients with spinal cord injuries or neurological diseases. Less invasiveness should make the treatment more accessible, lowering the cost and increasing the number of people it can reach. But of course, more development is needed to prepare it for human use, especially safety testing.