New Delhi, 29 June (IANS). A team of Australia scientists have created an electronic device that can be installed in the body and with the help of which the ability to walk after a spinal cord injury has been brought back. This research was done on animals and has also raised hopes of treatment for humans and their pets.
Its treatment is not possible now due to spinal cord injury and it has a very bad effect on the life of the person. But a test at Wipeapa Taumata Rau at Auckland University, New Zealand raises hope of an effective treatment.
Senior Research Fellow of Pharmacy School at Wipepa Taumata Rau of Auckland University, Dr. Bruce Harland, said, “Just as the wound heals on the skin, the spinal cord is not able to heal themselves, that is why its injury is very serious and is still incurable.”
According to a paper published in the journal Nature Communications, Dr. Harland, Dr. Harland and his team created a very thin tool, which is applied directly to the spine, especially where there was an injury. This device sends light and controlled flows of electrical there, which helps in healing the wound.
Professor Darren Swarsesis, director of the Catwalk Cure Program at the University’s School of Pharmacy, said that its aim is to resume the functioning of the spinal injury.
Mice have a slightly higher ability to recover from humans, which is why scientists tried this technique on mice and saw how much difference does it make if there is help from electric stimulation compared to natural filling.
Four weeks later, mice who were given this electrical stimulation treatment every day were better than the mice walking, who were not given this treatment. The entire study of 12 weeks saw that these rats started reacting quickly on light touch.
Dr. Harland said, “This means that the treatment improved both moving and felt. And most importantly, this treatment did not cause any swelling or damage in the spinal cord, which made it clear that it is safe.”
Professor Maria Espaland of Chalmers University of Technology said that in future there is a plan to make this technology a medical device that can benefit people with serious spinal injuries. Further, scientists will work on finding out how much change in the strength of treatment, its frequency and duration so that the best results can be achieved.
-IANS
AS/