Brendan O’Keefe, Talk #2
Neuroprosthetics are devices implanted in the body that simulate the function of an organ or organ system that has since failed due to disease or injury Their functions range from providing hearing, seeing, and feeling abilities as well as pain- relief and restoring damaged brain cells First documented use in 1957, first cochlear implant; failed after short time
Auditory: Most commonly the cochlear implant, this device gives patients their ability to hear back Visual: In patients with macular degeneration and other visual diseases, implants can bring lost vision back Spinal Cord Stimulator: Used for pain relief in patients with chronic moderate back pain
Most popular neuroprosthetic Usually consists of two different sets of parts: External: Outside the ear is the microphone, speech processor to filter sound, and transmitter to receive auditory input and send the input to internal components Internal: Receiver gets input from transmitter and converts it into electrical impulses ◦ The stimulator is the device that allows this technology to be possible. A device containing electrodes wound through cochlea and then uses the existing (yet damaged) nerves to transmit singals directly to brain
Motor prosthetics are devices that support the autonomous nervous system ◦ These are functions that are uncontrollable by the patient An example is a bladder control implant
Restore function to brain tissue lost Circuits are integrated Parkinson’s Speech Deficits Paralysis Traumatic Brain Injury
Size Power Consumption Data Transmission Accuracy
Self-charging implants Uploading/downloading information Controlling machinery with thoughts
Anissimov, Michael, and Bronwyn Harris. "What Are Neuroprosthetics?" WiseGeek. Conjecture, n.d. Web. 14 Apr Andersen, R.A., Musallam, S., and J.W. Burdick. “Cognitive Based Neural Prosthetics”. Web. 14 Apr "Neuroprosthetics." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 14 Apr "Cochlear Implant." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 14 Apr