Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
These robotic nerve ‘cuffs’ could help treat a range of #neurological conditions. Cambridge researchers have developed these tiny, flexible devices that can wrap around individual nerve fibres without damaging them.
Made from conducting polymers, normally used in soft robotics, the ultra-thin cuffs are #engineered in two separate layers. Applying tiny amounts of electricity – just a few hundred millivolts – causes the devices to swell or shrink.
The cuffs are small enough that they could be rolled up into a needle and injected near the target nerve. When activated electrically, the cuffs will change their shape to wrap around the nerve, allowing nerve activity to be monitored or altered.
Credit: #Bioelectronics Laboratory, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge.
Reference: Chaoqun Dong et al. ‘Electrochemically actuated microelectrodes for minimally invasive peripheral nerve interfaces.’ Nature Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-01886-0
These robotic nerve ‘cuffs’ could help treat a range of #neurological conditions. Cambridge researchers have developed these tiny, flexible devices that can wrap around individual nerve fibres without damaging them.
Made from conducting polymers, normally used in soft robotics, the ultra-thin cuffs are #engineered in two separate layers. Applying tiny amounts of electricity – just a few hundred millivolts – causes the devices to swell or shrink.
The cuffs are small enough that they could be rolled up into a needle and injected near the target nerve. When activated electrically, the cuffs will change their shape to wrap around the nerve, allowing nerve activity to be monitored or altered.
Credit: #Bioelectronics Laboratory, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge.
Reference: Chaoqun Dong et al. ‘Electrochemically actuated microelectrodes for minimally invasive peripheral nerve interfaces.’ Nature Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-01886-0
