3D printed brain implants could treat spinal injuries, scientists say

A 3D printed brain implant, which can be connected to a computer and used to treat spinal injury patients, has been created by British scientists.

The team of engineers and neuroscientists at the University of Sheffield, in collaboration with St Petersburg State University, Russia and Technische Universität Dresden, Germany, designed the implant so it can fit on the surface of the brain, the spinal cord, peripheral nerves or muscles.

The flexibility of the device means that it could be used in the development of treatments for multiple neurological conditions, the researchers said.

Scientists have been exploring placing a computer chip inside the human brain for some time, in the hope of better understanding neurological diseases, as well as unlocking the potential of connecting the human brain to technology.

Last month, Elon Musk released the design of his company’s Neuralink brain implant, which is hoped will help patients suffering from paralysis. In the future, Mr Musk intends for the chip to have the potential to control a computer or mobile device.

In this latest research, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, by 3D printing the implant it makes the production quicker and more cost effective than previous attempts, the researchers said.

The researchers were able to create a “softness” in the material of the implant, allowing it to be easily adapted for different surgical procedures.

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“The power of 3D printing means the prototype implants can be quickly changed and reproduced again as needed to help drive forward research and innovation in neural interfaces,” said Professor Ivan Minev, of Intelligent Healthcare Technologies at the University of Sheffield’s Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering.

The implant can detect and send small electrical impulses in the brain and the nervous system, the experts said, which are then recorded by a computer.

The team trialled the implants on animal models which were simulated as having spinal cord injuries. They were able to stimulate and record electrical signals from the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerve of the animals.

It is hoped the implants could now be adapted to use in humans with paralysis. The adaptability and speed of 3D printing could also allow for surgeons to print the implants directly in the operating theatre while patients are prepped for surgery, the researchers said.

Prof Minev added: “Patients have different anatomies and the implant has to be adapted to this and their particular clinical need.”