10172285Flexible IC development, for a wearable medical device - to monitor and treat paralysis in stroke patients.ClosedFast Start ResponseInnovate UKMore than 8 million people suffer from stroke-induced upper limb paralysis, worldwide - each year. Stroke can make everyday tasks like eating, writing, or buttoning a shirt impossible. While physiotherapy and occupational therapy can help, access to therapists is limited - leaving 75% of patients to give up on their therapy goals altogether. Progress can be slow after patients are discharged from hospital - leaving 45% to feel "abandoned". After all that, 61% of patients don't even have their 6-month assessment. Myonerv is a wearable medical device designed to help stroke survivors regain movement in their hands and arms. The device uses sensors to detect the smallest electrical signals generated by muscles (EMG) and delivers small electrical pulses to stimulate the muscles in response. This creates what neuroscientists call "closed-loop neuromodulation"; enabling the patient to initiate movement using their own brain and muscle signals to "retrain" the brain into connecting with the body after stroke. This project will develop the next era of closed-loop neuromodulation systems. With a custom semiconductor, we will increase the number of sensors and stimulators used, making it possible to target specific fingers and muscle groups with greater precision. This improved resolution could be the key to restoring more natural movement and function. The technology is designed as non-invasive, reusable, and low-cost - making it suitable for home use and is scalable across the NHS, with keen interest from partners at Charing Cross Hospital in London. Myonerv is advancing the frontier of material science and bioelectronics. We are using skin-friendly electrodes made from a soft polymer material, made conductive by our material scientists. This material is more accurate, comfortable and environmentally friendly compared to industry standard single-use electrodes. Our main electronic components will be shrunk into a single chip (an Integrated Circuit), improving the device's output and optimising user-friendliness. This innovation is being developed by a UK-based team between Cambridge and London - with expertise across neuroscience, bioengineering, and medical device design. The team is collaborating with NHS hospitals and patient groups to ensure the device is clinically relevant, accessible, and centred on real patient needs. If successful, Myonerv has the potential to transform neurorehabilitation for not only stroke patients, but for patients suffering from cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, ALS and MS too. Reducing NHS costs and increasing quality of life for millions of people around the world.