Brain teabags could help in stroke treatment
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Brain teabags could help in stroke treatment
LONDON ( 2008-12-31 181321 ) British scientists have made what they believe could be a major breakthrough in the field of stroke treatment by creating a revolutionary therapy that uses stem cells.
The doctors have used a revolutionary "teabag" stem cell device to restore the power of speech to a stroke victim. The treatment is still in its early stages, but it could be the beginning of a major breakthrough in this area, reports British media.
Researchers at a company based in Surrey, south east England, have seen their treatment successfully trialled to help one stroke victim talk and move again.
The stroke victim regained use of his right arm after an operation in which a "teabag" of drug-producing stem cells was introduced in his brain.
More than 45,000 Britons a year suffer a haemorrhagic stroke - a life threatening condition where a blood vessel in the brain bursts.
But now in a medical milestone, a revolutionary treatment has been developed using stem cells.
Cellbeads are manufactured by British firm Biocompatibles. The technology centres on a teabag-sized sachet that is filled with beads each stuffed with thousands of stem cells.
The cells are engineered to produce the drug CM1 - a version of a naturally occurring protein that protects brain cells from dying and allows them to rejuvenate.
The bag is planted directly in the brain during surgery but most importantly the cells are encapsulated in beads to protect them form the body's immune system which would otherwise destroy the foreign cells.
The one-size-fits all treatment can be stored in hospital freezers and thawed as needed making them a viable treatment for a larger number of patients.
The unique "teabag" also adds to the safety aspect allowing easy insertion and removal as needed.
Earlier this year a patient in Germany was successfully treated using the stem cell therapy product and neurosurgical technique. He has since regained the power of speech and the use of his right arm.
According to the media, if further trials prove successful it could be on the market in as little as five years giving fresh hope to the millions that die from the condition worldwide each year.