From: Smigrodzki, Rafal (SmigrodzkiR@msx.upmc.edu)
Date: Sun Jun 16 2002 - 18:41:34 MDT
The recent articles about neural prosthetics are exhilarating (see the
Dobelle release on vision implants). Yet, in practical terms this technology
is hampered by the risk of damage to the nervous tissue from forces exerted
by the stiff electrodes and the risk of moving the electrodes relative to
surrounding tissue, which would introduce significant instability (the
Dobelle implants avoid these problems by attaching only to the surface of
the brain but this impairs their functionality)
Some time ago I had an idea which should help: make electrodes in the shape
of pigtails, or helical springs. This shape would anchor the electrode much
better and it would allow it to accomodate the stretching and shrinking that
our brains undergo as we age. Another element would be small areas on the
electrodes covered with a dried, tissue-compatible plastic gel - after
implantation the gel would take up water and swell into small beads, firmly
anchoring the electrode. The helical part of the electrode would extend
through the subarachnoid space (again allowing for movements of the brain
within the cranium, as in running and under acceleration) to chips attached
to the dura, with the circuitry for sending information in and out through
the skin (the current Dobelle implant contains a pedestal open to the
outside, traversing the skin, which in practice could pose the risk of
infection).
Any other down-to-the-cortex suggestions for hot-wiring our brains?
Rafal
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