Scientists created a tiny device that can control your nerves to treat chronic pain

Scientists have developed a tiny, injectable device that can control nerve activity without surgery, batteries, or wires, potentially transforming treatment for chronic pain and movement disorders. Powered wirelessly from outside the body, the seed-sized technology has shown promising results in early testing. Scientists created a tiny device that can control your nerves to treat chronic pain.

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.