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We, cyborgs
Feb. 24th, 2013 10:53 pmToday's episode of science links is all about replacement body parts and interfacing them.
Remember, I mentioned 3D printing lately and all the wonderful things they can make for us. It turns out one of those things can be body parts. Scientists from Cornell University made a replacement ear by putting injection of living, cartilage-producing collagen cells in 3-D printed the soft mold of the ear and the ear grew. Their next step it to print by directly the using the living cells as "ink". Right now the experiments are done using cow cells but if it works they plan to switch to humans. Right now, the biggest problem is making enough of the collagen cells but after that is solved printing new ears, noses or even parts of ribcage (especially for children) might become as normal as sewing fingers back on.
Nine patients have been fitted with an Alpha IMS - a new retinal prosthesis device that uses a grid of 1500 electrodes implanted underneath, the retina. It only works for people who lost their vision through diseases that destroy the light-detecting cells in the eye but leave the vision-processing neurons intact. The device takes the visual signal and translates it to the neurons. It's also powered by wireless battery*. Unlike previous visual prosthesis, that use an external camera, Alpha IMS detects light entering the eye. That allows for looking around by moving eyes instead of moving the head. Think how it must feel to suddenly be able to see the world.
The first bionic hand that allows an amputee to feel what they are touching will be transplanted later this year in a pioneering operation that could introduce a new generation of artificial limbs with sensory perception. The hand's wiring will be connected directly to the nervous system via electrodes clipped onto two of the arm’s main nerves, the median and the ulnar nerves. Hopefully, this will allow the patient to not only control the movements of the hand but also to receive touch feedback from hand’s skin sensors. This should allow for better control and more delicate movement. As any robotic operator knows, without the touch information it's easy to either grip to lightly and let things slip or to grip too hard and squash it.
Wearable technologies are usually connected to smart clothes but last year circuits that can be put directly on skin were developed . Epidermal electronic system (EES) is an electronic circuit mounted on your skin, designed to stretch, flex, and twist — and to take input from the movements of your body. The devices are the as thin as human hair and they consist of circuitry embedded in a layer or rubbery polyester that allow them to stretch, bend and wrinkle. The circuit is applied to skin like a temporary tattoo. Now, all I can think of is the Organic Circuitry tattoos from Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth novels.
At first, the uses were mostly for monitoring (ECG, EEG, EMG) and they've shown it can also stimulate muscle. Now they have been shown to electrical signals linked with brain waves. Researchers found they have the ability to detect brain signals reflective of mental states (e.g. recognition of familiar images). They are also pursuing monitoring premature babies to detect the onset of seizures that can lead to epilepsy or brain development problems. The circuits already incorporate solar cells for power and antennas that allow them to communicate wirelessly or receive energy but they can also add like thermal sensors to monitor skin temperature and light detectors to analyse blood oxygen levels. In the future it might be used for interfacing things like replacement eyes and hands or even new, detachable limbs and communicating with computers and networks through touch in a way that makes them part of our body. Imagine flying planes or driving cars just like do walking.
*Wireless electricity is becoming the next big thing and it's not just batteries for things but can also be used for charging batteries as a German student has shown when he built what he calls an electromagnetic harvester. It's a device that converts electromagnetic fields in the immediate environment into electricity to recharge a common AA battery.
Remember, I mentioned 3D printing lately and all the wonderful things they can make for us. It turns out one of those things can be body parts. Scientists from Cornell University made a replacement ear by putting injection of living, cartilage-producing collagen cells in 3-D printed the soft mold of the ear and the ear grew. Their next step it to print by directly the using the living cells as "ink". Right now the experiments are done using cow cells but if it works they plan to switch to humans. Right now, the biggest problem is making enough of the collagen cells but after that is solved printing new ears, noses or even parts of ribcage (especially for children) might become as normal as sewing fingers back on.
Nine patients have been fitted with an Alpha IMS - a new retinal prosthesis device that uses a grid of 1500 electrodes implanted underneath, the retina. It only works for people who lost their vision through diseases that destroy the light-detecting cells in the eye but leave the vision-processing neurons intact. The device takes the visual signal and translates it to the neurons. It's also powered by wireless battery*. Unlike previous visual prosthesis, that use an external camera, Alpha IMS detects light entering the eye. That allows for looking around by moving eyes instead of moving the head. Think how it must feel to suddenly be able to see the world.
The first bionic hand that allows an amputee to feel what they are touching will be transplanted later this year in a pioneering operation that could introduce a new generation of artificial limbs with sensory perception. The hand's wiring will be connected directly to the nervous system via electrodes clipped onto two of the arm’s main nerves, the median and the ulnar nerves. Hopefully, this will allow the patient to not only control the movements of the hand but also to receive touch feedback from hand’s skin sensors. This should allow for better control and more delicate movement. As any robotic operator knows, without the touch information it's easy to either grip to lightly and let things slip or to grip too hard and squash it.
Wearable technologies are usually connected to smart clothes but last year circuits that can be put directly on skin were developed . Epidermal electronic system (EES) is an electronic circuit mounted on your skin, designed to stretch, flex, and twist — and to take input from the movements of your body. The devices are the as thin as human hair and they consist of circuitry embedded in a layer or rubbery polyester that allow them to stretch, bend and wrinkle. The circuit is applied to skin like a temporary tattoo. Now, all I can think of is the Organic Circuitry tattoos from Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth novels.
At first, the uses were mostly for monitoring (ECG, EEG, EMG) and they've shown it can also stimulate muscle. Now they have been shown to electrical signals linked with brain waves. Researchers found they have the ability to detect brain signals reflective of mental states (e.g. recognition of familiar images). They are also pursuing monitoring premature babies to detect the onset of seizures that can lead to epilepsy or brain development problems. The circuits already incorporate solar cells for power and antennas that allow them to communicate wirelessly or receive energy but they can also add like thermal sensors to monitor skin temperature and light detectors to analyse blood oxygen levels. In the future it might be used for interfacing things like replacement eyes and hands or even new, detachable limbs and communicating with computers and networks through touch in a way that makes them part of our body. Imagine flying planes or driving cars just like do walking.
*Wireless electricity is becoming the next big thing and it's not just batteries for things but can also be used for charging batteries as a German student has shown when he built what he calls an electromagnetic harvester. It's a device that converts electromagnetic fields in the immediate environment into electricity to recharge a common AA battery.
