A Johns Hopkins materials scientist and collaborators have developed a tiny device that may hold promise for restoring mobility to those with lower limb paralysis, a condition affecting approximately 1.4 million Americans. The novel apparatus, a spinal stimulator, can be placed below the injury site through a simple injection, setting it apart from conventional stimulators, which are bulky and must be deployed farther from the nerves that control leg movements. "The concept behind spinal stimulators is their ability to bypass injured regions, sending essential motor commands from the brain to the spinal region responsible for leg motions. Conventional spinal stimulators are implanted either on the spinal cord's dorsal surface (facing the person's back) or directly into the spinal tissue. The researchers hope that this technology—if eventually proven safe and effective for use in humans— could someday help restore leg function in people with spinal cord injuries or neuromotor diseases.
