Flexible e-Dura Implant Offers a Cure for Paralysis

Jan-14-15 The e-Dura flexible implant can be implanted in the nervous system without damage—opening the door to new paralysis treatments.

The implant, created by a team at the École Polytechnique Fédérale, was designed to address the problems associated with using stiff, rigid implants to combat paralyis. Building upon the advances in flexible electronics, the e-Dura implant is made up of a silicon substrate that mimics the human tissue's viscoelasticity, a property between rubber and thick fluid that allows the tissue to deform and then return to its natural state. The substrate is embedded with equally flexible gold wires and platinum-flecked electrodes that deliver a current while also detecting electrical impulses from the brain, as well as a microfluidic channels that can be used to deliver drugs.

The highly flexible nature of the e-Dura allows it remain functional even while stretching with the body's movements. In comparison, previous stiff implants caused inflammation that could lead to scar tissue development and, finally, rejection by the body.

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