Skip to main content

Stimulating implant could speed up recovery from devastating nerve injuries

Peripheral nerve injuries can be devastating. These are the nerves connecting the spinal cord to the rest of the body. While they can heal in the event they are cut or crushed in a traumatic incident such as a car accident, this is a long process. Now a new implantable device developed by researchers at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) could prove to be a restorative game-changer.

The device not only lets clinicians record data about the progress of nerve regrowth, but also speeds it up by stimulating the nerves using continuous electrical impulses. The hope is that this will help patients more quickly regain control of paralyzed body parts, while reducing the amount of physical therapy they will need in order to return to normal life.

Recommended Videos

“We have developed a device aimed to treat atrophy associated with muscle denervation as a result of a traumatic peripheral nerve injury,” Malia McAvoy, a medical researcher at MIT, told Digital Trends. “Denervated muscle weakens over time due to lack of use. When the peripheral nerve finally regenerates over a period of months, it connects to weakened muscle and the patient must undergo extensive rehabilitation to recondition and regrow their muscle. To improve patient outcome, we created an implantable, flexible microelectrode array. These are implanted onto the muscle and stimulated electronically via Bluetooth signal controlled by an iPhone. [This keeps] the muscle active and strong during peripheral nerve regeneration.”

So far, the researchers have demonstrated the technology by stimulating the nerves in a rat leg by using an app to make them move. The results have shown significant improvement in muscle-fiber growth compared to non-stimulated denervated controls. According to McAvoy, the next step of the project will be to assess tolerability and safety during longer periods in larger animal models, such as pigs. After this, they hope to move on to clinical trials.

McAvoy warned that “mass market commercialization is a long way off.” Nonetheless, this is extremely promising work that has the potential to drastically improve patient outcomes. The researchers are also excited about the potential of the technology to help servicemen and women who have suffered major nerve segmental loss in the proximal limbs due to blast-related injuries.

A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal Theranostics.

Luke Dormehl
I'm a UK-based tech writer covering Cool Tech at Digital Trends. I've also written for Fast Company, Wired, the Guardian…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more