Tiny zapper that may heal damaged nerves

A TINY, biodegradable implant could repair damaged nerves.

The wireless device — the size of a 5c coin — uses weak electric shocks to stimulate the peripheral nerves in the arms, legs or torso. Unlike those in the brain and spine, these can regenerate after injury.

After about two weeks, the implant dissolves and regrown nerves function as before. Writing in the journal Nature Medicine, experts at the University of Washington said it was the first example of a bio-electronic medicine and may help thousands affected by numbness, tingling and weakness caused by injury.