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Embodied 3D Neural Tissue Cultures for Cognitive Research
Published in Bin Wei, Brain and Cognitive Intelligence Control in Robotics, 2022
Today, NCIs are becoming increasingly popular and available as therapeutic devices and personal tools. Neurofeedback training, which pairs brain activity with computers that deliver threshold-triggered sensory feedback (Fig. 1) have allowed clinical patients to consciously identify and learn to suppress their own seizures (Sterman and Egner, 2006; Walker and Kozlowsky, 2005), increase their concentration (Chung et al., 2008; Hammond, 2011), and alleviate anxiety (Hammond, 2005). Commercial NCIs are currently available as sleep aids and recreational gaming controllers. Industry leaders have even suggested that, within the decade, minimally invasive brain implants could provide humans with the ability to control their handheld and other electronic devices with thought alone (Pisarchik et al., 2019)—reifying technologies that were previously relegated to the status of science fiction. Implants signaling wirelessly to intermediate devices or other implants with on board processors could soon increase the efficiency and proficiency of human-to-human communication. Circumventing historical limitations to human communication such as geographical distance, these devices would effectively tighten human social networks by contracting spatial and temporal constraints of social behavior.
Biological Engineering Solutions
Published in Arthur T. Johnson, Biology for Engineers, 2019
There is a burgeoning activity in electrophysiology and applications of electronics to diagnostics and health maintenance systems. Modern biomedical instrumentation has found applications as wide-ranging as deep brain stimulation, artificial retina, cochlear implant, artificial heart and left ventricular-assist devices (LVADs), neurostimulators for pain relief, prosthetics and sensors with neural attachments to give feeling to amputees, incontinence-control implants, and chips for drug delivery. Brain implants can allow quadriplegic patients to control robotic arms to move as the patients wish (Strickland, 2015). Intracranial implanted electrical stimulators have been used to treat epileptic seizures. Other electrical systems stimulate the Vagus nerve for the same purpose (Denison et al., 2015).
Recent Developments toward the Synthesis of Supramolecular Bioelectronicc Nanostructures
Published in Šeila Selimovic, Nanopatterning and Nanoscale Devices for Biological Applications, 2017
John D. Tovar, Stephen R. Diegelmann, Brian D. Wall
Neural and cardiac electrodes are seeing increased usage in a number of diagnostic, therapeutic, and treatment applications; everything from brain implants (Figure 4.7), pacemakers, and cochlear implants, to the treatment of epilepsy, depression, chronic pain, and Parkinson’s disease, to the regulation of breathing, bladder, and bowel control. These implanted electrodes work by sensing or sending electrical pulses and are therefore highly dependent on the contact at the tissue-electrode interface. ‘Classical’ electrodes, made from materials like gold, platinum, iridium, titanium, or steel are biocompatible or bioinert but suffer the drawback of having poor contact with tissue. This poor contact can provoke an immune response and scar tissue formation around the electrode which drastically diminishes the long term electrode performance. Furthermore, these interfaces may not be mechanically robust which poses a problem for implants subject to muscle contractions during device operation. Ideally, an electrode coating is needed that is conductive, adhesive and biocompatible to address the electrode-tissue interface.
Wearable technologies as extensions: a postphenomenological framework and its design implications
Published in Human–Computer Interaction, 2023
Veerbek (2015) precisely pointed out that Ihde’s typology is insufficient to characterize the different relations engendered by recent technologies. He emphasized that there are configurations of humans and technologies that are more intimate than an embodiment relation, like a brain implant. He thus proposed the cyborg relation, where technology is not merely embodied; rather, it merges with the human body into a new, hybrid being (Verbeek, 2008): “Instead of organizing an interplay between a human and a nonhuman entity, this association physically alters the human” (Verbeek, 2008, p. 391). The cyborg relation highlights the strict connection between humans and technologies, which is a key characteristic of the extension relation as well. However, the cyborg relation requires a physical fusion between human and technology and is more suitable for implants and prostheses than wearables.
Multi-layer PDMS films having antifouling property for biomedical applications
Published in Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 2020
M. Mousavi, H. Ghaleh, K. Jalili, F. Abbasi
Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is now the most utilized elastomer for the packaging of implantable biomedical micro-devices [6–9]. This popularity is due to its unique bulk properties, including biocompatibility [10], low toxicity, thermal and oxidative stability, excellent flexibility, mechanical stability, controllable curing chemistry [11], and relatively low cost [12,13]. Generally, PDMS is regarded as a high-flux material for oxygen and water vapor to penetrate compared with other polymeric barrier materials, but it is still considered to be an excellent barrier material for implants [14,15]. Different thin film coating or deposition techniques employed to produce non-hermetic encapsulants include roller coating [16], spin coating, and dip coating [17,18], screening printing [19,20] and chemical vapor deposition [21,22]. The devices encapsulated solely by PDMS suffer from poor long-term stability in chronic brain implant applications because of defect-induced penetration through the packaging coating fabricated by usual deposition techniques like spin coating. Moisture will degrade the performance of electronic devices. Therefore, a multiple thin-film coating technique was suggested to supply the moisture barrier and mechanical requirements of a non-hermetic polymer-based packaging system and prevent the localized and defect-related failure mechanisms [14,23].
Brain–Computer Interface Games Based on Consumer-Grade EEG Devices: A Systematic Literature Review
Published in International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 2020
Gabriel Alves Mendes Vasiljevic, Leonardo Cunha de Miranda
Typically, an EEG approach is used as it is a non-invasive technique, i.e., it does not need a brain implant to collect data from the user. The disadvantage of non-invasive devices is the lower spatial resolution in comparison to invasive devices. However, it offers no risks to the user, as the device only reads the signals from the scalp (i.e., the skin layer bordering the face and the neck). EEG has been considered the primary choice for developing BCI systems (Kim, Kim, Oh, & Kim, 2013; Marshall, Coyle, Wilson, & Callaghan, 2013). Other modalities besides the EEG include the Magnetoencephalography (MEG), Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS).