See this tiny chip in the image above? It is a wireless sensor. One day, doctors will begin to practice implanting it into our bodies to monitor the work of our organs. Moreover, such chips will one day allow paralytics and amputees to manipulate their new artificial limbs. The development of the first prototype of this grain-sized device belongs to scientists at the University of California at Berkeley.
Each sensor contains a piezoelectric crystal that converts ultrasonic vibrations into energy. Due to this energy, the device is able to transmit to the received device, for example, information about the functioning of the nerve cells in the brain, which will be used to control the bionic limbs.
Despite the fact that the current version of the sensor is only 3 x 1 mm (including the cubic component), the team of scientists says that in the future the device will be further reduced in size. Ideally, it is planned to create sensors half the diameter of a human hair. Such devices, according to experts (who call them "neural dust"), can work forever inside our bodies.
Thanks to such chips, people in need of limb prosthetics do not have to resort to using bulky implants with a bunch of electrodes.
As noted by one of the chip's developers, Ryan Neely:
“The original goal of the Neural Dust Project was to try to introduce the next generation of brain-to-computer interfaces and make the technology viable. Such chips, after implantation into the brain, will allow people with paralysis to control the power of their thoughts, for example, a computer or a robotic arm. And this opportunity will remain for life."
The research team believes that in addition to managing prostheses and monitoring organ functions, such sensors can be used in the treatment of various tumors, including cancers. In addition, it is possible that similar chips will be used to stimulate the functioning of nerve cells and muscles and prevent the symptoms of epilepsy. Of course, it will take a long time before such opportunities appear, but scientists have already successfully tested the current prototype chip (pictured above) on laboratory mice.
NIKOLAY KHIZHNYAK
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