Brain implant could aid those with spinal injuries and epilepsy

Researchers have recently discovered that a brain implant made partly of silk can provide an “intimate” connection with the brain by melting onto its surface and providing better connections for recording signals. The device has been tested on the brains of cats and showed that the thin, flexible material was more accurate in its recording of brain signals than stiffer, thicker devices.

The new silk devices were made by John Rogers of the University of Illinois, Urbana as well as colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania and Tufts University in Boston. The group put the electrode arrays together by combining protein from silk and thin metal electrodes. The silk portion of the device is water-soluble and essentially melts onto the brain allowing the electrodes to conform to the ridges of the brain for a better connection.

The device offers hope to those who suffer from epilepsy, spinal cord injuries, or even those with prosthetic limbs. The implant could detect seizures before they happen in epilepsy patients and send out signals to counter the oncoming seizure. It could also help route signals through the body for those who have suffered from a spinal cord injury or aid in the operation of a prosthetic limb.