SpinalCOM: Ambulatory monitoring of the Spinal Cord

National audienceLittle is known about the processes occurring after Spinal Cord (SC) damage. Whether permanent or recov-erable , those processes have not been precisely characterized . Because usual imaging techniques (MRI , Echo-Doppler ,. . .) provide only limited information on this organ , there is an unmet need for methods to assess the functional consequences of the Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) and the effect of therapeutic interventions. To meet this need , the SpinalCOM project aims to investigate a new imaging approach of the SC , through the realization of a mul-timodal communicating device for measuring the activity of the SC. A first proof of concept was validated with custom made prototypes through in vivo experiments on animals . This approach will establish locally and specifically the functional state of the SC , which will provide a breakthrough in the care and therapeutic trials in SCI