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Scientists Discover Way to Send Information into Black Holes Without Using Energy

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Scientists Create Seed-Sized Device That Treats Chronic Pain & Nerve Disorders Without Surgery or Batteries

A major breakthrough in medical technology may soon change how doctors treat chronic pain and neurological disorders. Researchers from New York University Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, have developed a tiny injectable device that can control nerve activity without surgery, wires, or batteries.

This new technology is designed to make advanced nerve treatments simpler, safer, and more accessible for patients around the world.

A Device Smaller Than a Seed, But Powerful in Function

The device is extremely small—about the size of a grain or seed. Despite its size, it carries powerful medical potential. Doctors can inject it into the body using a standard needle, similar to how a vaccine is given.

Once inside the body, the device is carefully positioned near a target nerve. From there, it can send controlled electrical signals to influence how that nerve behaves.

This process, known as neuromodulation, is often used to treat conditions like:

  • Chronic pain

  • Movement disorders such as Parkinson-like symptoms

  • Nerve dysfunction

  • Some neurological conditions affecting muscle control

What makes this device unique is that it does not require surgery or implanted batteries, which are common in traditional nerve stimulation systems.

Wireless Power From Outside the Body

One of the most impressive features of this technology is how it is powered. Instead of relying on an internal battery or wired connection, the device receives energy wirelessly from outside the body.

This means doctors—or even in some cases patients under medical guidance—can adjust the device in real time. They can control how strong or weak the nerve stimulation is depending on the patient’s condition and response.

This flexibility is important because neurological conditions often change over time, and treatment needs to be adjusted accordingly.

Precision Placement and Real-Time Monitoring

To ensure safety and accuracy, the device can be tracked using common medical imaging tools such as ultrasound and CT scans. This allows doctors to confirm that it is placed exactly near the correct nerve.

Once it is in position, the device can deliver programmable electrical stimulation. That means the treatment can be customized for each patient rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

This level of precision is especially important in neurological care, where even small errors in targeting nerves can affect outcomes.

A Major Step Forward in Medical Science

The research was published in Science Advances, a respected peer-reviewed journal that features cutting-edge scientific discoveries.

According to Prof. Khalil Ramadi, assistant professor of bioengineering at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Tandon and senior author of the study, this innovation represents a major shift in medical thinking.

He explained that instead of surgically implanting complex devices, doctors may soon be able to simply inject a device that performs similar functions. This could make treatment:

  • Less invasive

  • Safer for patients

  • Easier to administer

  • More widely available

In simple terms, it brings high-tech nerve treatment closer to a routine medical procedure.

Strong Collaboration Between Leading Institutions

This breakthrough was made possible through collaboration between academic researchers and medical experts.

Dr. Sawsan Abdel-Razig, chief academic officer at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, highlighted the importance of this partnership. She noted that combining expertise from different fields helps accelerate innovation that directly benefits patients.

Such collaborations are essential because they connect laboratory research with real-world medical needs. This ensures that new technologies are not just scientifically interesting but also clinically useful.

Successful Early Testing

Before being considered for human use, medical devices must go through extensive testing. In laboratory and preclinical studies, this injectable device showed strong results.

Researchers found that it:

  • Provided precise nerve stimulation control

  • Worked reliably under realistic conditions

  • Successfully activated nerves in living models (in vivo testing)

These results suggest that the device has strong potential for future medical applications.

However, further studies and clinical trials will still be needed before it becomes widely available in hospitals.

Bridging Two Worlds of Treatment

Today, nerve-related conditions are usually treated in two main ways:

  1. Non-invasive treatments, such as medications or external therapies

  2. Implantable devices, which require surgery and long recovery time

This new injectable device sits between these two approaches. It combines the effectiveness of implants with the simplicity of non-invasive treatments.

Dr. Mohamed Elsherif, research associate at NYU Abu Dhabi and first author of the study, described it as a bridge between traditional implants and non-invasive therapies.

In his view, this technology could offer patients effective treatment without the stress and risk of surgery.

Why This Matters for Patients

Chronic pain and neurological disorders affect millions of people worldwide. Many patients struggle to find treatments that are both effective and easy to tolerate.

Current implanted devices can work well, but they require surgery, carry risks of infection, and often need battery replacements. On the other hand, medications may not always provide enough relief and can have side effects.

This injectable device could solve several of these problems by:

  • Reducing the need for surgery

  • Lowering infection risk

  • Allowing quick and flexible treatment adjustments

  • Minimizing recovery time

  • Improving patient comfort

If successful in future human trials, it could transform how doctors manage long-term nerve conditions.

Faster, Simpler, and More Accessible Care

Another important benefit of this technology is accessibility. Because the device is injectable and does not require complex surgical procedures, it could potentially be used in more hospitals and clinics worldwide.

This is especially important in regions where advanced surgical facilities are limited.

By simplifying the treatment process, more patients could receive advanced nerve therapy without needing specialized surgical centers.

What Comes Next

While the early results are promising, the device is still in the research stage. Scientists will now focus on:

  • Long-term safety studies

  • Human clinical trials

  • Improving device durability and performance

  • Exploring new medical applications

If these steps are successful, the device could become a widely used tool in neurological medicine within the next decade.

Conclusion

The development of this tiny injectable, wirelessly powered device marks an important step forward in medical science. It shows how technology is moving toward less invasive, more personalized treatments.

By combining precision engineering with advanced medical research, scientists from NYU Abu Dhabi and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi have opened the door to a new way of treating chronic pain and neurological disorders.

Instead of major surgery, patients in the future might simply receive an injection that helps control nerve activity safely and effectively.

This innovation could reshape not only neurology, but the broader future of medical treatment as a whole.

Reference: 

  • Mohamed Elsherif et al.
,
An injectable, leadless bioelectronic interface for battery-free wireless peripheral neuromodulation.Sci. Adv.12,eaeg1437(2026).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.aeg1437

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