Nerve-cooling implant could offer pain relief alternative to opioids, say researchers

The soft, implantable and dissolving device developed by scientists at Northwestern University is said to propose a pain relief solution without using opioids. Photograph: Northwestern University/PA

An implant which can cool nerves to block pain signals has been unveiled by researchers who say the device could offer an alternative to drugs such as opioids.

The team behind the device say it could bring benefits for management of acute pain such as that experienced after amputations, nerve grafts or spinal decompression surgeries.