New neural interface promises surgery-free access to nervous system
Diagnosing, managing and treating neurological disorders with minimal surgical risks could be possible with a new technique developed by Rice University and the University of Texas Medical Branch.
The team, led by Rice University’s Jacob Robinson and the University of Texas Medical Branch’s Peter Kan, has had its findings published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Conventional approaches for accessing the nervous system often require creating a hole in the skull to interface with the brain. Now, the researchers have developed endocisternal interfaces (ECI) that enable electrical recording and stimulation of neural structures, including the brain and spinal cord, through cerebral spinal fluid (CSF).
In a statement, Robinson, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and bioengineering , said: “Using ECI, we can access multiple brain and spinal cord structures simultaneously without ever opening up the skull, reducing the risk of complications associated with traditional surgical techniques.”
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According to Rice, ECI uses CSF, which surrounds the nervous system, as a pathway to deliver targeted devices. By performing a lumbar puncture in the lower back, researchers can navigate a catheter to access the brain and spinal cord.
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