SCI/TECH: Electrical Device Promising for Spinal Cord Injury, page 1

Scientists are encouraged by early tests of a new device for treating spinal cord injury. By implanting oscillating field stimulator, they have found improvements in motor function and reduction of pain in test subjects. The device works by creating a magnetic field which has been found to be safe and well tolerated. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved further testing of the device.

story.news.yahoo.com
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Early tests are raising hopes that a new device can help people who've injured their spinal cord.

Implantation of an oscillating field stimulator, which generates an electrical field, is a safe, well-tolerated treatment that may improve motor and sensory function in such patients, findings from a pilot study suggest.

The device, which was developed at Purdue University, is placed near the site of injury and is designed to stimulate nerves to regenerate and, it's hoped, restore some degree of function.

After seeing encouraging results in dogs with spinal cord injury, Dr. Scott Shapiro, from Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, and colleagues tested the device in humans. The researchers' findings appear in the Journal of Neurosurgery-Spine.

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This would be great news for people who have SCI. Improvements in motor response can make a difference as can reducing the pain associated with the injury. No doubt this is one of many research areas being looked at and hopefully one that will pan out. Other areas include the use of stem cells and other therapies.