Rubbery, implantable fibers used to study the spinal cord

[Image from MIT]

New rubber-like fibers can match the flexibility of the spine as they deliver optical impulses to study spinal cord neurons, thanks to researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Scientists use implantable fibers to study the brain, giving them the opportunity to stimulate specific parts of the brain to monitor electrical responses. Before the rubber fibers, stiff and brittle fibers could damage spinal cord tissue as the spine flexed.

The new rubber-like fibers can deliver optical impulses for optoelectronic stimulation and electrical connections for stimulation and monitoring.

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