Making Spinal Connections with Flexible Implants
From: Machine Design - 04/24/2015

Advances in spinal repair will allow people to regain movement and sensation
by using cracked gold. Developed by Professors Stephanie Lacour and Gregoire
Courtine at the Centre for Neuroprosthetics at Switzerland’s Ecole
Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, the e-Dura implant is specifically
designed for use on the surface of brain or spinal cord implementation. This
small device can imitate the mechanical properties of living tissue,
delivering electric impulses and pharmacological substances to the brain or
spine.

The implant is as flexible and stretchable as living dura tissue matter.

The potential for the device is great. The device can be used on any part of
the nervous system. Flexible electronics could be placed under the skin to
restore tactile senses for amputees or diabetics who have lost touch and
feel. Applying the device to the surface of the brain could help patients who
suffer from Parkinson's disease or provide alerts for incoming seizures in
epileptics.

Read the entire article at:
http://machinedesign.com/sensors/making-spinal-connections-flexible-implants

Links:
Stephanie Lacour
http://cnp.epfl.ch/Lacourlab

Center for Neuroprosthetic and Brain Mind Institute (with videos 14:24, 2:35
  & 1:44) 
http://courtine-lab.epfl.ch

E-dura: A Novel Neural Interface Device
http://journals.lww.com/neurosurgery/Fulltext/2015/06000/E_dura___A_Novel_Neural_Interface_Device.1.aspx