Scientists created a tiny device that can control your nerves to treat chronic pain
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A miniature medical device small enough to be delivered through a standard needle could change how doctors treat chronic pain and movement disorders. Developed by scientists at NYU Abu Dhabi in partnership with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, the technology can regulate nerve activity without surgical implantation, batteries, or connecting wires.
Roughly the size of a small seed, the device is injected into the body and positioned close to a specific nerve. Once in place, it sends carefully controlled electrical signals that alter the nerve’s activity. Power is supplied wirelessly from outside the body, allowing doctors or patients to adjust the stimulation in real time.
The findings, published in Science Advances, describe a potentially less invasive way to deliver precise nerve stimulation. Rather than replacing existing treatments, which can include medications and surgically implanted devices, the technology could provide another option tailored to individual medical needs.
“This work represents a shift in how we think about treating nerve-related conditions,” said Prof. Khalil Ramadi, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Tandon and the study’s senior author. “By creating a device that can be injected rather than surgically implanted, we are making these therapies simpler, safer, and more accessible, while still maintaining precise control over nerve activity.”
Wireless Nerve Stimulation Without Surgery
One of the device’s key advantages is that doctors can locate and monitor it using familiar imaging techniques, including ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scans. These methods help guide placement near the intended nerve and allow the device’s position to be checked afterward.
The implant also provides programmable electrical stimulation. This means the signals it delivers can be adjusted to suit a patient’s needs, potentially giving healthcare providers greater flexibility in managing conditions that involve abnormal or unwanted nerve activity.
“This collaboration with NYU Abu Dhabi reflects our commitment to advancing innovative, clinically relevant research that translates into meaningful improvements in patient care,” said Dr. Sawsan Abdel-Razig, Chief Academic Officer at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “By bringing together multidisciplinary expertise, this work highlights how academic partnerships can accelerate the development of safer, less invasive therapies and expand access to advanced treatments for patients.”
Promising Early Results for Chronic Pain Treatment
The researchers evaluated the technology through laboratory experiments and preclinical testing. Their results showed that the miniature device could deliver precise nerve stimulation while maintaining consistent performance under conditions designed to resemble real-world use.
The team also demonstrated that the device could successfully activate nerves in vivo, meaning within a living organism rather than only in an isolated laboratory setting. This finding represents an important early step toward determining whether the technology could eventually be used in medical care.
“This technology has the potential to bridge the gap between non-invasive therapies and traditional implants,” said Dr. Mohamed Elsherif, Research Associate at NYU Abu Dhabi and first author of the study. “It opens the door to treatments that are both effective and easy to deliver, which could significantly improve patient care.”
Although the device has demonstrated promising results in early testing, its ability to relieve chronic pain or improve movement disorders in human patients has not yet been established.
If further research confirms its safety and effectiveness, the technology could reduce the need for more invasive procedures while making advanced nerve stimulation treatments easier to deliver. Avoiding surgical implantation could also help decrease procedure-related risks and shorten recovery times, potentially expanding access to these therapies.
Additional contributors to the study from NYU Abu Dhabi were Salma Mansour, Zhansaya Makhambetova, Fotoon Aldhanhani, Batoul Khlaifat, Mahmoud Elbeh, Vega Pradana Rachim, and Sohmyung Ha. The Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi co-authors were Hicham Abada, Juan S. Barajas-Gamboa, and Carlos M. Abril Vega.
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