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Subretinal implant uses light instead of batteries, shows promise in initial testing

Anthony Verrecchio — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:32:00 EST

There's been significant progress in bringing sight to the blind in recent years, and this looks set to continue that miraculous trend. Scientists at Stanford University have invented a subretinal photodiode implant for people who have lost their vision due to degenerative retinal diseases. Existing tech involves batteries and wires, but the new implant works without such crude appendages. Instead, it's activated by near-infrared beams projected by a camera that's mounted on glasses worn by the patient and can record what the patient sees. The beams then stimulate the optic nerve to allow light perception, motion detection and even basic shape awareness. It hasn't actually been tested with humans just yet, but the first few ~~rodents~~ volunteers have yet to lodge a single complaint.

Subretinal implant uses light instead of batteries, shows promise in initial testing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 04:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Purdue University creates 'bass' powered medical implant, knows where it hertz

James Trew — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:43:00 EST

We've seen all kinds of medical implants over the years, but none that had a musical preference -- until now. Researchers at Purdue University have created a pressure sensitive microelectromechanical system (MEMS) that uses sound waves as an energy source. The proof-of-concept has a vibrating cantilever that's receptive to sound -- or music -- in the 200 - 500Hz frequency spectrum, which is towards the bottom end of the audible range. The subcutaneous implant converts the low-frequency vibrations into energy, and then stores it in a capacitor. Once the cantilever stops vibrating, it sends an electrical charge to a sensor and takes a pressure reading, the result is then transmitted out via radio waves for monitoring purposes. The immediate real world applications include diagnosing and treating incontinence, but we're already wondering if that self-powering mp3 player implant could finally become a reality?

Purdue University creates 'bass' powered medical implant, knows where it hertz originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eyeborg filmmaker fires up eye-cam to document cutting edge prosthetics (video)

Terrence O'Brien — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 16:38:00 EST

In late 2008 filmmaker Rob Spence, caught our attention when he announced his plan to jam a video camera in his skull to replace an eye he lost to an unfortunate accident. Instead of connecting the camera to his brain, Spence sought to become a so-called "lifecaster," recording the feed on an external device. Now his bionic eye is up and running, and he's even partnered with a little company called Square Enix to create a documentary about state-of-the-art prosthetics and cybernetics. The short film, embedded after the break, was commissioned to celebrate the launch of Deus Ex: Human Revolution. But, this isn't just some over-long commercial for a game, it's a serious exploration of cutting edge leg, arm, and eye replacement technology. Check it out below, but be warned -- there are a few image that might not sit well with weaker stomachs.

Continue reading Eyeborg filmmaker fires up eye-cam to document cutting edge prosthetics (video)

Eyeborg filmmaker fires up eye-cam to document cutting edge prosthetics (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioBolt brain implant could help the paralyzed walk again

Terrence O'Brien — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:55:00 EST

Controlling a cursor with your brain? Yawn. Restoring movement to paralyzed mice? Color us unimpressed. Help a wheelchair-bound man walk again using only his thoughts? Now we're talking. That's the goal of researchers at the University of Michigan who have developed BioBolt, a (comparatively) noninvasive implant that rests on top of the cortex rather than penetrate it. The device is inserted through an easily-covered, dime-sized hole in the skull and feeds patterns from firing neurons to a computer using your epidermis (which is showing, by the way) as a conductor. The ultimate goal of helping the paralyzed walk again is still years away but, in the meantime, it could be used to suppress seizures or diagnose diseases like Parkinson's. Everyday this mind over matter thing sounds a little less like a load of bullpuckey.

BioBolt brain implant could help the paralyzed walk again originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers shield implants from hackers with wireless charm of protection

Terrence O'Brien — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:39:00 EST

Everything can be hacked -- that's an important detail to keep in mind as we start cramming wireless radios into our bodies attached to medical implants. Researchers have been working on ways to protect devices like pacemakers from ne'er-do-wells looking to cause, not just e-harm, but physical injury or even death. A new system developed jointly by MIT and UMass is much more sophisticated that earlier solutions, can be used with existing implants, and is worn outside the body allowing it to be removed in the event of an emergency. The shield, as it's called, acts as a sort of medical firewall, protecting implants from unauthorized access -- doctors send encrypted instructions to it which are decoded and relayed to device, while it blocks any signals not using the secret key. All that's left to do is figure out what sort of person would mess with someone's defibrillator.

Researchers shield implants from hackers with wireless charm of protection originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paralyzed man can stand and walk again, thanks to spinal implant

Amar Toor — Fri, 20 May 2011 08:47:00 EST

Here's an amazing story to end your week on a high note: a 25-year-old paraplegic is now walking again, thanks to a groundbreaking procedure developed by neuroscientists at the University of Louisville, UCLA and Cal Tech. The Oregon man, Rob Summers, was paralyzed below the chest in 2006, after getting hit by a speeding car. This week, however, doctors announced that Summers can now stand up on his own and remain standing for up to four minutes. With the help of a special harness, he can even take steps on a treadmill and can move his lower extremities for the first time in years. It was all made possible by a spinal implant that emits small pulses of electricity, designed to replicate signals that the brain usually sends to coordinate movement. Prior to receiving the implant in 2009, Summers underwent two years of training on a treadmill, with a harness supporting his weight and researchers moving his legs. This week's breakthrough comes after 30 years of research, though scientists acknowledge that this brand of epidural stimulation still needs to be tested on a broader sample of subjects before any definitive conclusions can be drawn. Summers, meanwhile, seems understandably elated. "This procedure has completely changed my life," the former baseball player said. "To be able to pick up my foot and step down again was unbelievable, but beyond all of that my sense of well-being has changed." We can only imagine.

Paralyzed man can stand and walk again, thanks to spinal implant originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 May 2011 08:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Test subjects with electrode implants use mind control to move a cursor

Dana Wollman — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:25:00 EST

As trippy as mind-control still seems to us, we've already seen it implemented in everything from wheelchairs to pricey gaming (and car driving!) headsets. But the problem is that they measure brain activity outside the skull -- you know, the thing we've evolved to shield the murky goings-on in our minds from prying EEG sensors.

Now, though, a team of Washington University researchers appears to have happened upon a more effective -- albeit, invasive -- approach. The researchers got some brave specimens to move a mouse cursor by implanting plastic pads containing electrodes underneath their skulls, with the sensors sitting on the surface of the brain. That, they say, gives them access to more telling, high-frequency waves that say a lot more about cognitive intentions. In the end, the subjects moved the cursors by thinking one of these sounds: "ee," "ah," "oo," and "eh." Brain-computer interfaces ain't new, of course, but the scientists say the subjects with electrode implants had more success than people wearing electrode-studded EEG caps, which could translate to less frustration for people with severe disabilities.

Test subjects with electrode implants use mind control to move a cursor originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bionic eye closer to human trials with invention of implantable microchip

Christopher Trout — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:16:00 EST

We've had our eye -- so to speak -- on Bionic Vision Australia (BVA) for sometime, and with the invention of a new implantable microchip it's coming ever closer to getting the bionic eye working on real-deal humans. The tiny chip measures five square millimeters and packs 98 electrodes that stimulate retinal cells to restore vision. Preliminary tests are already underway, and clinicians are in the process of screening human guinea pigs for sampling the implants -- the first full system is still on track for a 2013 debut. In the interest of future success: here's mud in your eye, BVA! Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Bionic eye closer to human trials with invention of implantable microchip

Bionic eye closer to human trials with invention of implantable microchip originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lasers let deaf ears pick up what the sonic world is putting down

Michael Gorman — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:01:00 EST

Not going to front: we've a soft spot in our heart for focused beams of light. We've seen 'em rid the world of its space junk and set the pace of human hearts, and now, they're taking a leading role in aural advancement. As improbable as it sounds, a research team from the University of Utah led by Richard Rabbitt has found that lasers may be able to give deaf people the ability to hear. Using a low-power infrared diode -- similar to those in laser-pointers tormenting cats the world over -- Professor Rabbitt found that exposing oyster toadfish hair cells (analogous to the cells found in humans' inner ears) to infrared light caused them to release neurotransmitters and activate adjacent neurons. This could lead to laser-based ear implants able to stimulate focused areas of cells with thousands of sound wavelengths, as opposed to today's electrode implants whose electrical current spreads through human tissue and limits the deliverable sonic range. Smaller, more efficient power supplies and light sources are needed before optical hearing aids become a reality, but if these newfangled lasers ever get their act together, we should be able to hear version two (and three) coming down the pike.

Lasers let deaf ears pick up what the sonic world is putting down originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BrainGate hits 1,000 day mind-control milestone, nearly three years of pointing and clicking

Christopher Trout — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:17:00 EST

Aspiring Svengalis rejoice! For BrainGate has reached a significant landmark in computational thought-control -- the 4 x 4-mm implantable chip has given a woman with tetraplegia the ability to point and click with her brain for 1,000 days. An article recently published in the Journal of Neural Engineering said the woman, known simply as S3, performed two easy tasks every 24 hours, using her mind to manipulate a cursor with 90 percent accuracy. Each day she was monitored, S3 would post up in front of a computer and continuously command the thing with her thoughts for 10 minutes. Functionality reportedly deteriorated over time, but the paper points to the chip's durability, not sensor-brain incompatibility, as the culprit. Research is currently underway to incorporate BrainGate into advanced prosthetics that could get tetraplegics like S3 up and moving again. Now, how's that for the power of positive thinking?

BrainGate hits 1,000 day mind-control milestone, nearly three years of pointing and clicking originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers experiment with drug-delivering robot... implanted in an eye

Donald Melanson — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:10:00 EST

If the notion of a tiny robot swimming around in your eye leaves you a bit uneasy then, well, you might want to stop right here. For the rest of you, though, you may be interested in some new tests now being conducted by Michael Kummer and his team of researchers at the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems in Zurich, Switzerland. What you're looking at above is a pig's eye, and the tiny black spec near the top is a microbot that's able to roam around the eye with the aid of an electromagnetic system. While things are still obviously very early, the researchers say the microbots could eventually be used to precisely deliver drugs in humans, and treat issues like macular degeneration. Head on past the break for the video.

Continue reading Researchers experiment with drug-delivering robot... implanted in an eye

Researchers experiment with drug-delivering robot... implanted in an eye originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second Sight retinal prosthesis cleared for sale in Europe, a better one already in development

Darren Murph — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:01:00 EST

We'd bother with the obvious, but there's no sense in acting exasperated that this thing is finally shipping -- let's just be glad it didn't take a day longer, shall we? Second Sight, a California-based company aiming to help those with degenerative eye disease by way of technology, has finally seen its flagship product approved for "clinical and commercial use" in Europe. The product is the Argus II, and for all intents and purposes, it's a retinal prosthesis (read: implant) that can at least partially restore lost vision. It works a little like this: patients don the camera-laden glasses, where signals are grabbed and fed wirelessly to a chip implanted near ones retina. The information is beamed to around 60 electrodes that "stimulate retinal cells, producing light in a patient's view." According to Technology Review, "the process works for people with retinitis pigmentosa because the disease damages only the light-sensing photoreceptors, leaving the remaining retinal cells healthy." For now, the $115,000 device will only be available through a smattering of clinics in Switzerland, France and the UK. If all goes well, it'll be actively seeking FDA approval next year for use in the US of A, and a version with way more electrodes shouldn't be too far behind.

Second Sight retinal prosthesis cleared for sale in Europe, a better one already in development originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers debut one-cubic-millimeter computer, want to stick it in your eye

Christopher Trout — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 17:43:00 EST

This as-of-yet-unnamed mini computer was fashioned as an implantable eye pressure monitor for glaucoma patients, but its creators envision a future where we're all crawling with the little buggers. Taking up just over one cubic millimeter of space, the thing stuffs a pressure sensor, memory, thin-film battery, solar cell, wireless radio, and low-power microprocessor all into one very small translucent container. The processor behind this little guy uses an "extreme" sleep mode to keep it napping at 15-minute intervals and sucking up 5.3 nanowatts while awake, and its battery runs off 10 hours of indoor light or one and a half hours of sun beams. Using the sensor to measure eye pressure and the radio to communicate with an external reader, the system will continuously track the progress of glaucoma, without those pesky contacts. Of course, the mad scientists behind it look forward to a day when the tiny device will do much more, with each of us toting hundreds of the computer implants all over our bodies -- looks like a bright future for cyborgdom.

Researchers debut one-cubic-millimeter computer, want to stick it in your eye originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 17:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers develop 'liquid pistons' for cameras, medical use

Donald Melanson — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:11:00 EST

It may still be years away from any sort of practical use, but a team of researchers at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed some so-called "liquid pistons" that they say could shake up everything from cameras to medical devices. Those pistons consist of some droplets of "nanoparticle-infused ferrofluids," which are able to oscillate and precisely displace a surrounding liquid. In the case of a camera, that could be used for a liquid lens of sorts (as seen at right), and the researchers say the same technology may one day even be used for implantable eye lenses. The possibilites don't end with optical uses, though -- the researchers say that the precise ability to pump small volumes of liquid could also be used for implantable drug-delivery systems that would be able to deliver tiny doses at regular intervals. Of course, there's no indication as to when any of that might happen -- in the meantime, you can occupy yourself with the brief but oddly hypnotic video after the break.

Continue reading Researchers develop 'liquid pistons' for cameras, medical use

Researchers develop 'liquid pistons' for cameras, medical use originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chip implanted in spinal cord could help sufferers of chronic pain (video)

Laura June — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 05:19:00 EST

Researchers at Sydney's National ICT Australia (NICTA) have spent the past two years developing an incredibly futuristic invention which could bring relief to those who suffer from chronic pain. What it amounts to is a series of 'smart' chips inserted into biocompatible devices and strung together. These are then sewn into a very small (1.22mm wide) lead made of a polymer yarn and wires, which are then inserted into the spine. The device is them connected to a battery and computer which can measure and gather information about the pain-carrying nerves signalling the brain. The device can also respond by sending 10 volt electrical pulses to block the signals' path to the brain, tricking the brain into thinking there is no pain. There are devices such as this one already in existence, but they are much larger than this new device, and its smaller size increases accuracy as it can be implanted closer to the spine than previous models. The NICTA's device is set to go into human trials next year. Video after the break.

Continue reading Chip implanted in spinal cord could help sufferers of chronic pain (video)

Chip implanted in spinal cord could help sufferers of chronic pain (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 05:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NYU prof sticks camera on the back of his head, just as promised (video)

Sean Hollister — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:23:00 EST

Remember when your parents told you they had eyes in the back of their heads, and part of you wanted to believe? Well, NYU professor and artist Wafaa Bilal recently had that done, though it's not as permanent as we'd hoped -- it's a removable dealie, affixed to a titanium plate implanted in the back of his skull. The resulting lifecast gets piped to a satchel at his side, which will be used in his art project The 3rd I at the Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art on December 30th... but you should be able to get a sneak peek at the images at his website in just a little over a week. No word on whether he'll also hook up the whole kit to some sweet LCD goggles. Here's hoping. Video after the break.

Continue reading NYU prof sticks camera on the back of his head, just as promised (video)

NYU prof sticks camera on the back of his head, just as promised (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Active Book microchip provides hope for exercising paralyzed limbs

Ben Bowers — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 02:15:00 EST

Scientists have been experimenting with muscles and technology to solve both human and robotic mobility issues for years. Now it looks as though a team of researchers from University College London, Freiburg University, and the Tyndall Institute in Cork have made a significant leap forward for paraplegics, thanks to a revolutionary microchip the team has dubbed "Active Book." What's notable about the chip is that it stimulates more muscle groups than existing technology without the need for external connections. This was accomplished via micro-packing and precision laser processing, which allowed tiny electrodes to be cut from platinum foil and rolled into a 3D book shape. These platinum foil "pages" close in around nerve roots, and are micro-welded to a hermetically sealed silicon chip. Once embedded into areas within the spinal canal, the chip can work to stimulate paralyzed muscles, implying patients could even "perform enough movement to carry out controlled exercise such as cycling or rowing." A press release from the Council which sponsored the research says the Active Book will begin trials sometime next year -- we can't wait to see the results.

Continue reading Active Book microchip provides hope for exercising paralyzed limbs

Active Book microchip provides hope for exercising paralyzed limbs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Nov 2010 02:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NYU prof installing camera in the back of his head, JW Parker Middle School teachers insanely jealous

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:34:00 EST

You've wished you had a camera implant, right? We mean, it's pretty common: you've been on the bus or the incline and something went down and you were like, "I wish I was recording this right now." Well, we know of at least two folks looking to replace their prosthetic eyes with webcams, and now an artist living in New York wishes to sport an implant of his own. Wafaa Bilal, an NYU photography professor, plans on having a camera attached to a piercing on the back of his head for one year. Throughout that time, still images will be taken at one minute intervals and displayed at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Qatar. The work, titled "The 3rd I," is billed as "a comment on the inaccessibility of time, and the inability to capture memory and experience," although it really sounds like the dream of every teacher and parent since time immemorial: to have eyes on the back of their head. Of course, the privacy of Bilal's students is being taken into consideration, although the school is not exactly sure how they're handling that one yet -- either the camera will be covered while he teaches or shut off altogether while in NYU buildings.

NYU prof installing camera in the back of his head, JW Parker Middle School teachers insanely jealous originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Medtronic debuts tiny lead-less pacemaker at TEDMED 2010

Sean Hollister — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 21:04:00 EST

There are two pacemakers in the picture above. There's the typical clunky, stone shaped device with wires on the right -- and on the left, a device dwarfed even by a one-cent coin. This is the Medtronic wireless pacemaker, just revealed at TEDMED 2010, which can be implanted directly into your heart via catheter and permanently latch itself into flesh with tiny claws. Then, doctors can wirelessly monitor and even control the device from a nearby smartphone. Medtronic's working to make it even smaller still, and we're hoping to get more information soon. Welcome to the future, folks.

Gallery: Medtronic leadless pacemaker at TEDMED 2010

Medtronic debuts tiny lead-less pacemaker at TEDMED 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 21:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flexible, implantable LEDs look set to start a new body modification craze

Vlad Savov — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 10:53:00 EST

LED lights are cool, you're cool, why not combine the two, right? We doubt that's quite the reasoning that led to this international research project, but it's certainly an appealing way to look at it. Our old buddy John Rogers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has headed up a research team with participants from the US, China, Korea, and Singapore, who have together produced and demonstrated a new flexible and implantable LED array. Bettering previous efforts at inserting lights under the human skin, this approach allows for stretching and twisting by as much as 75 percent, while the whole substrate is encased in thin silicon rubber making it waterproof. Basically, it's a green light to subdermal illumination, which could aid such things as monitoring the healing of wounds, activating light-sensitive drug delivery, spectroscopy, and even robotics. By which we're guessing they mean our robot overlords will be able to color-code us more easily. Yeah, that must be it.

Flexible, implantable LEDs look set to start a new body modification craze originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Implantable antenna designed using silk and gold

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:03:00 EST

Silk: it's stronger than Kevlar, thinner than a human hair, it's biocompatible (it doesn't trigger human immune system response), and it's produced by insects (although some new-fangled metabolically engineered bacteria seem to be up to the task). Researchers at Tufts University have created a silk and gold biosensor that can be implanted in the body to keep tabs on proteins and chemicals. One possible use would be to keep track of diabetic's glucose levels, notifying the patient when things go wonky. At the present time, they've only tested the antenna itself -- it was found to resonate at specific frequencies, even when implanted in several layers of muscle tissue (from a pig, mind you). For their next trick, the team will outfit the device with proteins or other molecules to monitor in-vivo chemical reactions.

Implantable antenna designed using silk and gold originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Telescopic eye implant approved by the FDA

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:29:00 EST

We love eye implants, and we've seen our share of them, and this one is pretty sweet (although it isn't the creepiest by a long shot -- that prize would go to the one that uses a human tooth to hold its lens). In the works for well over a year, and approved by the FDA a couple days ago, VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies' implantable miniature telescope is intended for patients over 75 years of age who are suffering from end-stage macular degeneration. As with any tricky new surgery, this one is not without risks, including the need for a corneal transplant due to the device's size. According to CBC News, in clinical testing seventy-five percent of over 200 patients "had their vision improve from severe or profound impairment to moderate impairment," and there are two more studies on the way: one will follow up with existing patients, while the other will outfit 770 new patients with the device. The cost? $15,000.

Telescopic eye implant approved by the FDA originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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British scientist becomes first human 'infected' with a computer virus

Donald Melanson — Wed, 26 May 2010 14:17:00 EST

Sure, a cybernetic-filled, dystopian future may sound nice and cheery, but what happens when all your snazzy implants get infected with a computer virus? That's what one brave researcher at the University of Reading is attempting to find out, and he's now actually gone so far as to willingly "infect" himself in the name of science. As you might expect, however, this is all this very much a proof of concept, but Dr. Mark Gasson says that the infected RFID chip in his hand was indeed able to pass on the virus to an external control device in his trials, and he warns that the eventual real world implications could be far more dire. Gasson is particularly concerned when it comes to medical implants, which he says could potentially become infected by other implants in the body, and even pass on the "infection" to other people. Head on past the break for the BBC's report, and try not to be too startled by the Dalek in the room.

[Thanks, Mark S]

Continue reading British scientist becomes first human 'infected' with a computer virus

British scientist becomes first human 'infected' with a computer virus originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VNS implant might fix the ringing in your ears

Sean Hollister — Tue, 25 May 2010 23:41:00 EST

Earlier this decade, doctors discovered that by shocking the vagus nerve -- one of twelve nerves connected directly to the brain -- they could attempt to treat chronic hiccups, epilepsy and severe depression. Now, a startup called Microtransponder believes such a device can help reduce tinnitus, too. Technology Review now reports the company's RFID-like, externally-powered implant could stimulate the vagus nerve while doctors play particular tones for those suffering ringing ears, slowly attuning the patients to frequencies other than the one that ails them. As with all new medical procedures, we don't expect to see this one on the market anytime soon, but the firm does claim it's just raised $10 million in funding and will pursue FDA clearance accordingly. Until then, you'll just have to try less invasive procedures, or simply restrain yourself from turning that volume dial to 11. Ch'yeah right!

VNS implant might fix the ringing in your ears originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 23:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scientists develop implants that melt onto the surface of the brain

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:32:00 EST

Looks like brain implants have just got a lot more effective -- and a lot creepier. Developed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, the new bio-integrated electronics eschew electrodes resembling needles or semi-flexible wires for an ultrathin flexible material that is made partly from silk. Since the new material "essentially melts into place" (scientists compare it to shrink-wrap), it hugs the brain, getting more effective readings than previous technology. It is hoped that the new technology will prove much more effective -- and extremely beneficial for patients with epilepsy, spinal cord injuries, and other neurological disorders. According to John Rogers, Ph.D., the man who invented the flexible electronics at the University of Illinois, "It may also be possible to compress the silk-based implants and deliver them to the brain, through a catheter." We wish these good folks the best of luck with their research -- and we really, really hope that we never have anything shot into our brain with a catheter. PR after the break.

Continue reading Scientists develop implants that melt onto the surface of the brain

Scientists develop implants that melt onto the surface of the brain originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australian researchers unveil bionic eye prototype, implants coming in 2013

Laura June — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:56:00 EST

We've been hearing about things like bionic eyeballs -- specifically cameras which are implantable into human eyes -- for quite some time now. But it looks like Bionic Vision Australia has actually developed a real, working prototype. BVA, along with researchers at the University of New South Wales, have shown off their advanced prototype of the "eye," which boasts a pair of glasses mounted with a camera, a pocket-mounted CPU, and a wireless electrode chip which must be surgically implanted in the eye. The electrode chip has 98 electrodes which stimulates cells on the optical nerve, resulting in improved vision for those with vision problems resulting from optical nerve problems. Clinical trials are scheduled to begin later this year in Melbourne, with the hope that actual patients will be treated sometime in 2013. Kudos! The full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Australian researchers unveil bionic eye prototype, implants coming in 2013

Australian researchers unveil bionic eye prototype, implants coming in 2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subretinal implant successfully tested on humans, makes blind narrowly see

Sean Hollister — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:21:00 EST

How many scientists does it take to properly install a lightbulb? When that lightbulb is an implant that stimulates retinal photoreceptors to restore one's sight, quite a few -- even if they disagree whether said implant should be placed on top of the retina (requiring glasses to supply power and video feed) or underneath, using photocells to channel natural sunlight. Now, a German firm dubbed Retina Implant has scored a big win for the subretinal solution with a three-millimeter, 1,500 pixel microchip that gives patients a 12 degree field of view. Conducting human trials with 11 patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa, the company successfully performed operations on seven, with one even managing to distinguish between similar objects (knife, fork, spoon) and perform very basic reading. Though usual disclaimers apply -- the tech is still a long way off, it only works on folks who've slowly lost their vision, etc. -- this seems like a step in the right direction, and at least one man now knows which direction that is.

Subretinal implant successfully tested on humans, makes blind narrowly see originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Artificial lens implant promises to give patients 'HD vision'

Donald Melanson — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:37:00 EST

Implanted lenses may be old hat compared to newfangled sight restoration techniques involving radiation beams and teeth, but it looks like some eye surgeons in the UK have now come up with a few new tricks that promise to let patients see better than ever. The new process apparently starts out like a standard procedure for cataracts, but makes use of lenses made from light-sensitive silicone that can be fine tuned several times after the surgery, eventually giving the patient "HD vision" that's said to be better than 20/20. The lenses can apparently even be adjusted for either bifocal or varifocal use, eliminating the need for some patients to wear glasses at all. Head on past the break for a video.

[Thanks, Esevila]

Continue reading Artificial lens implant promises to give patients 'HD vision'

Artificial lens implant promises to give patients 'HD vision' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MIT researchers tout progress with retinal implant - yes, it comes with a visor

Donald Melanson — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:57:00 EST

As impressive as that tooth-eye implant was, we're guessing most folks had something more like this in mind when they considered the future of sight restoration. While it's still a bit early in development, and has yet to actually be implanted in anyone, this new retinal implant certainly seems to have the researchers at MIT excited, who say that tests with blind patients could begin within the next three years. The basic idea behind it was apparently inspired by the cochlear implants that have proven successful in restoring people's hearing, although in this case the implant works by electrically stimulating damaged nerve cells that would ordinarily send visual signals from the retina to the brain. According to the researchers, however, the system would only work on folks that have lost their sight due due retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration, and it wouldn't restore complete sight, but could let them see enough to find their way through a room or walk down a sidewalk (which is certainly no small feat). They'll also have to wear a special set of glasses (or visor, if you prefer), which will not only wirelessly send images to the implant, but keep it powered wirelessly through a set of coils.

[Via The Register]

Filed under: Wearables, Science

MIT researchers tout progress with retinal implant - yes, it comes with a visor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: doctors implant tooth into eye, restore sight, creep everyone out

Vlad Savov — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:25:00 EST

Osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis. It's a real procedure that really does revive people's ability to see, yet we get the feeling that people will be more, um, excited about how it's done than why it's done. The seemingly Mary Shelley-inspired doctors extract a tooth from a blind person and drill a hole through it, where a prosthetic lens is placed, and the resulting macabre construction is implanted into the blind person's eye. The tooth is necessary as the body would reject an artificial base. It's not at all pretty, and it cannot repair every type of blindness, but it's still a major step forward. To hear from Sharron Thornton, the first American to have undergone the procedure, check the video after the break, but only if you can handle mildly graphic content -- you've been warned.

[Via Daily Tech]

Continue reading Video: doctors implant tooth into eye, restore sight, creep everyone out

Filed under: Science

Video: doctors implant tooth into eye, restore sight, creep everyone out originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bone-anchored hearing aids filter out noise, finally ready for human implantation

Darren Murph — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:03:00 EST

Think those noise-canceling earbuds are hot stuff? Imagine if said technology was applied to an advanced type of implantable hearing aid, and you'll have an idea of exactly what Earthlings with severe hearing loss now have to look forward to. For years now, we've watched as cochlear implants became more effective in lab tests, and up until recently, we've had strict medical testing procedures to thank for the inability to actually get one. Now, one Colin Hughes will soon be amongst the first Australians to enjoy a "new bone-anchored hearing aid designed to adjust to noisy environments, quiet conversations and the varying rhythms and pitch of music." Due to a birth defect that left him with atypically narrow eustachian tubes, Colin was never able to take advantage of traditional hearing aids for any length of time, but now these $12,000 (per pair) devices are promising a new life for the 70-year old bloke. Our favorite feature? MP3 players can be directly (and discretely) attached, enabling old geezers to tune out old hags without them ever noticing.

[Thanks, Mike]

Filed under: Wearables

Bone-anchored hearing aids filter out noise, finally ready for human implantation originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filmmaker hopes to replace false eye with webcam, become a superhero

Darren Murph — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:34:00 EST

There are quite a few eerie similarities between Rob Spence and Tanya Vlach. For starters, they're both artists, and secondly, they both currently have one prosthetic eye. The real kicker? Each of 'em wants a camera stuck in there instead. In what we can only hope is (or isn't?) a freakishly growing trend, Mr. Spence has reportedly sought consultation from the University of Toronto's Steve Mann, a self-proclaimed expert in the field of wearable computing and cyborgs. Essentially, Rob is hoping to install a webcam in his eye socket in order to become a so-called "lifecaster." The camera wouldn't actually be wired to his brain, thus his level of vision would remain subpar, but it would make him a living science experiment that would surely prove insightful to an array of others. As of now, it sounds like the road to installation is long, but we get the impression that this guy isn't apt to give up until the proverbial fat lady begins to bellow.

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Wearables

Filmmaker hopes to replace false eye with webcam, become a superhero originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skin-tenna technology promises to keep medical implants connected

Donald Melanson — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:35:00 EST

We've already some efforts to tailor Bluetooth for use with medical devices, but it looks like a team of researchers from Queen's University Belfast have now come up with another method of keeping devices connected, which they say is more efficient and better suited for implants. Their solution is effectively a "skin-tenna," which makes use of a puck-like device worn on the outside of the body that allows wireless signals to "creep" along an individual's skin. That, the researchers say, not only minimizes the "off-body signals," but requires far less power than Bluetooth or other wireless technologies, which is obviously a plus when a battery change consists of a trip to the operating room.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wireless

Skin-tenna technology promises to keep medical implants connected originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers develop human prosthesis for balance, unfortunately it's not a tail

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:00:00 EST

There's hope for those of us suffering from chronic imbalance as a result of staring too long at periodic tables and 20-sided dice. It's an implant developed by neuroscientists at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. The implant looks to off-set balance irregularities in the human vestibular system caused by trauma or disease affecting the gyroscopic function of the inner ear. A microprocessor converts signals received from a motion sensor worn on the head into electrical impulses. These are then sent to an electrode implanted into the inner ear. The first test will begin next week on a rhesus monkey. A move which evokes cries of "unfair" from us -- unlike nerds, monkeys already have excellent balance.

Researchers develop human prosthesis for balance, unfortunately it's not a tail originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers develop eye-implantable camera

Nilay Patel — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:36:00 EST

Most of the bionic eye systems we've seen involve clunky glasses-cam headgear, but the implantable camera now being developed at UCLA does it straight Terminator-style and keeps your face unencumbered. The camera, which researcher Michelle Hauer and her team recently filed a patent for, is small enough to be implanted directly on the eye's lens, and feeds image data to a chip at the back of the eye, where it can either be fed into the optic nerve to aid the blind, or just into a portable hard drive to aid the creepy. Hauer says power will come from on an onboard battery, but we're more interested in the mention of "optical control signals" in the patent application -- and by "interested" we mean "terrified of a zombie android army."

Read - NewScientist blurb
Read - Patent application

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Wearables

Researchers develop eye-implantable camera originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carina implantable hearing aid gets showed off

Donald Melanson — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:58:00 EST

We've been hearing about cochlear implants of various sorts some time for some time now, but it looks things are about to get a whole lot more implantable, with a pair of fully implantable hearing aids now in clinical trials. One of those is developed by the folks at Envoy Medical, while the other comes from Otologics of Boulder, CO, which the MIT Technology Review got to check it out first hand, so to speak. Dubbed "Carina," the hearing aid consists of four separate pieces that are designed to be countersunk into the skull, including a microphone the size of a fingernail that sits behind the ear and a main processing unit that also houses the rechargeable lithium-ion battery that powers the device. That, as you're no doubt wondering, gets replenished by a charging unit that's held in place with a magnet and must be worn for an hour or two a day. As the Review heard straight from one of the device's early users, the entire setup appears to work remarkably well, delivering a "natural feeling of hearing." As it's quick to point out, however, the device still has a long ways to go, with the study currently only having twelve of the 70 to 80 users it needs to complete "phase II" of the trials. And, of course, there's that small matter of price, with the Carina currently ringing in at a cool $20,000 (for one ear), none of which is covered by insurance.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wearables

Carina implantable hearing aid gets showed off originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brain implant, software enables patients to think out loud

Darren Murph — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:51:00 EST

Truth be told, we've already seen instances where technology has enabled individuals to speak without speaking, but a brain implant placed into Eric Ramsey's head could certainly raise the bar in this field. The wireless electrode, which resides just six-millimeters below the surface of his brain, records pulses from 41 surrounding neurons involved in speech generation, and thanks to software developed by the associated team, those thoughts will hopefully be translated into words in the not-too-distant future. Currently, the group feels that they can accurately identify the word Ramsey is thinking up 80-percent of the time, and in the coming weeks, a computer will begin giving the patient real-time feedback so he can perfect the art of thinking out loud. 'Course, the team responsible isn't likely to be satisfied until an unadulterated conversation can take place, but it seems we're well on our way to seeing that come to fruition.

[Via BBC]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Brain implant, software enables patients to think out loud originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VeriChip defends its implantable microchips, promises they're safe

Darren Murph — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:48:00 EST

Man, that was quick. Just two days after reports hit the net about RFID implants being linked to cancer, VeriChip is lunging out to vehemently defend its own implantable microchip. Interestingly enough, the firm cites phrases from a number of studies to suggest that all is well and we've nothing to fear by getting one of these bad boys inserted into us, and it also makes darn sure we know the thing has been "cleared by the FDA as a Class II Medical Device." Lastly, the company has promised to continue looking at the "veracity and credibility of the studies," and noted that it would "take the necessary steps to ensure that our products remain safe to the end user." Phew, good thing, eh?

Filed under: Wireless

VeriChip defends its implantable microchips, promises they're safe originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Performance artist Stelarc implants "third ear" in forearm

Donald Melanson — Wed, 16 May 2007 21:19:00 EST

Picking up where the Vacanti mouse left off, Australian performance artist Stelarc went through with his plans to implant a cell-cultivated ear beneath the skin of his forearm earlier this year, and he's now showing off the results for the world to squirm at. Stelarc apparently isn't satisfied with his newfound appendage just yet, however, and is reportedly planning another surgery to give the ear "more definition." What's more, he's also hoping to implant a microphone inside the ear that'll use a Bluetooth transmitter to, you guessed it, broadcast what it hears over the Internet.

[Via Boing Boing, photo courtesy of Nina Sellars]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wearables

Performance artist Stelarc implants "third ear" in forearm originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2007 21:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JHU research leads to diabetes treating implant

Darren Murph — Sat, 12 May 2007 01:56:00 EST

Although a number of unique diabetes treatments are already in the works, researchers at Johns Hopkins University are giving it a shot of their own with a newfangled intravascular implant. A team of undergrads have collaborated with doctors and biomedical engineers to develop a "specialized implant for a potential treatment of type I diabetes," which has been created for implantation inside the portal vein in order to dole out insulin when needed. The pouch would ideally be "impregnated with insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells," but researchers have insinuated that this same system could possibly be used to treat other ailments such as liver disease. Notably, users could actually have the pouch removed, refilled, and reinserted if additional treatment is needed, and while no firm timeframe has been settled on for release, a provisional patent has already been applied for and "animal testing" is set to start this summer.

[Via MedGadget]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

JHU research leads to diabetes treating implant originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 May 2007 01:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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