Guiding Device for Precision Grafting of Peripheral Nerves in Complete Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury: Design and Sizing for Clinical Trial

This study focuses on creating a device to help regenerate spinal cords using nerve grafts. The device is designed to guide nerve fibers across the damaged area of the spinal cord. The device's dimensions are based on simulated spinal cord sizes to ensure a good fit. This is to make sure the device works effectively in human spinal cord injuries. The aim is to improve the precision of nerve grafting, a technique where peripheral nerves are used to bridge the gap in the injured spinal cord, potentially restoring some function.

• 1
  A set of seven guiding device sizes can accommodate the range of human thoracic spinal cord sizes (T2-T12) with acceptable error.
• 2
  The mean error-of-fit comparing simulated spinal cord segments to the best elliptical shape was 0.41 and 0.36 mm for transverse and anteroposterior diameter, respectively.
• 3
  The device design allows for guiding corticospinal axons from the cranial end to gray matter at the caudal end, facilitating nerve regeneration.