METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REINNERVATION OF MUSCLE

摘要

A method of preparing terminally differentiated electrically excitable cells from stem cells in vitro including the steps of adding media conditioned with nerve tissue to stem cells, the conditioned media having been previously incubated with nerve tissue. The excitable cells are capable of developing functional connections with muscle fibres. The excitable cells obtained can be included in a pharmaceutical composition and injected into the denervated muscle of a patient in order to re-innervate it. An electrical stimulator is preferably implanted at the same time. This method and system is particularly useful for the restoration of grasp function in brachial plexus injuries, restoration of continence where the sphincters are denervated and restoration of locomotor functions in spinae bifida.