A team of researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, has developed a small injectable medical device that offers a new approach to treating chronic pain and movement disorders by precisely controlling nerve activity — without the need for surgery, batteries, or wires — providing a simpler, less invasive method for treating neurological conditions.
Thanks to its small size, comparable to a tiny seed, the device can be injected into the body using a standard needle near the target nerve, where it emits electrical signals according to desired specifications that influence nerve activity.
The electrical signals sent by the device are controlled wirelessly from outside the body, allowing doctors or patients to adjust its activity as needed.
The research, published in the journal Science Advances, presents an approach that combines precision in targeting the desired nerve with minimal surgical intervention.
Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Tandon School of Engineering, and lead author Khalil Ramadi, said: "This work represents a shift in how we approach nerve-related conditions.
With this injectable device, we bypass the implantation procedure to make these therapies simpler, safer, and more accessible, while maintaining precise control over nerve activity."