Documents / Report
This Defense Intelligence Agency reference document, dated 31 March 2010 (DIA-08-1003-020), was one of a series of advanced technology reports produced in FY 2009 under the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications (AAWSA) program. It surveys biosensors and BioMEMS, covering brain-implanted neuroelectrodes, drug-delivery pumps, implantable glucose sensors, brain-machine interfaces, retinal prostheses, microfluidic lab chips, NASA cell culture systems, and microcantilever sensors. It concludes that the field is expanding rapidly toward nanomechanical systems.
“University of Arizona”7 pages
UNCLASSIFIED/ ,'P'91t 9P'P'!!!llit 1!1!11!! 811Llf BRAIN-MACHINE INTERFACES A specific development in MEMS based neuroengineering has been the brain-machine interface (BMI). These devices use computers to interpret brain signals from implanted neural arrays and then use the information to control machines and setup an automated environment. The development of such devices can have a profound impact on the quality of life for those individuals practically isolated because of their disabilities. Connected machines will enable them to enjoy the everyday things we take for granted. For example, a visual prosthesis could potentially restore partial vision to a blind patient by stimulating neurons in the visual cortex using an input BMI. Signals could be recorded from the motor cortex using an output BMI in order to bypass a neural injury and restore some movement to a paralyzed patient. Even a simpler device that would allow a patient to move a cursor on a screen would make a significant impact. It is generally recognized that clinical applications of such BMis may require the activities of hundreds or thousands of neurons to be simultaneously sampled. Figure 21 is an SEM photograph of a dense array of electrodes directed towards BMI applications. Figure 21. Scanning Electron Micrograph of a 1141 Electrode Array Made to Be Inserted Into the Surface of the Human Brain (University of Utah) A significant problem with these devices is that when they get too densely disposed, blood flow and disruption of the natural wiring of the brain causes decline of tissue function. Another very important issue is the biocompatibility of the material that the implants are coated with. The more biocompatible these materials are the less tissue reaction they will cause thus resulting less implant risk and longer implant period. 25 UNCLASSIFIED//r;Oll oi;i;1,;;1•k lalilii O•lkll'
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Report, from the dia collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. 45 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.