New Australian invention could fix chronic back pain

An Australian invention could drastically change the way people with severe back pain are treated.

The new device, developed in Sydney, is as small as a 50 cent coin and is set to be tested on humans next year.

Doctors are hoping the invention, which has been tested in laboratories for 15 months, is ready to help people who suffer from suffer from severe, worn out spines such as bulging discs and other treatments have failed.

While traditional spinal fusions involve rods, large screws and a bone graft, this new device is designed to be less invasive.

“There's no assembly at the time of surgery. Simply put it in place, and fix it down,” Dr Matthew Pelletier of the University of NSW said.

The porous design of the titanium device, means the patient's own bone grows through it, without the need for a transplant and the supporting metallic hardware.

Early trials point to positive results and faster healing.

“From our pre-clinical experiments we have actually observed spinal fusion occurring as fast as six weeks” Professor Bill Walsh of UNSW said.

The NSW government has backed the device announcing more than $1.5m through the Medical Devices Fund.