Non-Invasive Brain Implant Could Someday Translate Thoughts into Movement From: University of Michigan News Service - 06/16/2011 By: Laura Bailey University of Michigan researchers have developed BioBolt, a brain implant that uses the body's skin as a conductor to wirelessly transmit the brain's neural signals to control a computer. With conventional neural implants, the skill must remain open, which makes using the technology in the patient's daily life unrealistic, says Michigan professor Kensall Wise. However, BioBolt does not penetrate the cortex and is completely covered by the skin, which greatly reduces the risk of infection. Wise says "the ultimate goal is to be able to reactivate paralyzed limbs" by picking the neural signals from the brain cortex and transmitting those signals directly to muscles. BioBolt also can be used to control epilepsy and to diagnose diseases such as Parkinson's. BioBolt uses a film of microcircuits to analyze the firing neurons and associate them with a specific command from the brain. Those signals are converted to digital signals and transmitted through the skin to a computer, says Michigan professor Euisik Yoon. BioBolt minimizes power consumption by using the skin as a conductor. Yoon says the researchers hope to eventually bypass the need for an off-site computer by transmitting the signals through skin and directly into a device worn on the person's body. Read the entire article at: http://ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=8445 http://www.engin.umich.edu/newscenter/feature/biobolt/ http://www.eecs.umich.edu/eecs/about/articles/2011/Yoon-biobolt.html Links: Kensall Wise http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~wise/ Euisik Yoon http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~esyoon/ Minimally-Invasive Brain Implant Wirelessly Transmits Neural Signals http://www.wirelessdesignmag.com/ShowPR.aspx?PUBCODE=055&ACCT=0000100&ISSUE=1106&RELTYPE=IN&PRODCODE=000000&PRODLETT=LW.html?et_cid=1724428&et_rid=60825880 --- BioBolt: Minimally Invasive Brain Implant From: University of Michiagn EECS News - 2010-2011 Prof. Euisik Yoon and his group have developed a minimally invasive and low power neural interface that wirelessly transmits the brain’s neural signals, or thoughts, to control a computer. The device could one day be used to reactivate paralyzed limbs, control epilepsy, or diagnose certain diseases like Parkinson’s. Unlike existing brain implants, BioBolt does not penetrate the cortex and is completely covered by the skin, which greatly reduces the risk of infection. BioBolt achieves lower power consumption by using the skin as a conductor, or signal pathway. Source: http://www.eecs.umich.edu/eecs/about/EECSNews/EECSNews10.pdf (page 15)