Wearable Non-invasive Neuroprosthesis for Targeted Sensory Restoration in Neuropathy

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2024 Dec 31

PMID 39738088

Authors

Noemi Gozzi

Lauren Chee

Ingrid Odermatt

Sanne Kikkert

Greta Preatoni

Giacomo Valle

Nikolai Pfender

Felix Beuschlein

Nicole Wenderoth

Carl Zipser

Stanisa Raspopovic

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Peripheral neuropathy (PN), the most common complication of diabetes, leads to sensory loss and associated health issues as pain and increased fall risk. However, present treatments do not counteract sensory loss, but only partially manage its consequences. Electrical neural stimulation holds promise to restore sensations, but its efficacy and benefits in PN damaged nerves are yet unknown. We designed a wearable sensory neuroprosthesis (NeuroStep) providing targeted neurostimulation of the undamaged nerve portion and assessed its functionality in 14 PN participants. Our system partially restored lost sensations in all participants through a purposely calibrated neurostimulation, despite PN nerves being less sensitive than healthy nerves (N = 22). Participants improved cadence and functional gait and reported a decrease of neuropathic pain after one day. Restored sensations activated cortical patterns resembling naturally located foot sensations. NeuroStep restores real-time intuitive sensations in PN participants, holding potential to enhance functional and health outcomes while advancing effective non-invasive neuromodulation.

Citing Articles

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PMID: 40011562 PMC: 11865617. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-91452-8.

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