The optical sensor can make the brain directly control the

The optical sensor can make the brain directly control the artificial limb
It is reported ' Reporter Liu Xia) According to October 18 such as website, " the new scientist " of Britain, ' Beijing time) The report, American scientist researches and develops a kind of sensor that can receive optical signals such as the neural pulse,etc., can further improve the connection between human nervous system and artificial limb, make the dream of directlying control the artificial limb through the nerve of brain march towards a great step towards reality. In the future, through this sensor, the brain can directly control the sports of the artificial limb, the person planted into can also experience pressure and temperature through the artificial limb.

At present, the neural interface in the artificial limb is the electron, the metal part among them may be repelled by the body. Defend mark Christensen and colleague who pays attention to society's university and research and develop some optical sensors that can catch the neural signal in the south of and U.S.A.. Material which they used - -Optic fibre and polymer compare with metal, it is not merely unlikely to bring out the immunoreaction of the body, and will not be corroded either.

This kind of sensor is set up on the ball shell of a polymer, these ball shell and a bunch of optic fibres are united together occasionally, the optic fibre will send a bunch of light, through the shell inside of ball. The light is in these ball of shells " Travel " Way known as" The mode of Echo Wall " ,Its inspiration comes from the Echo Wall of St Paul's Cathedral of London of Britain. In St Paul's Cathedral, the sound can spread continuously through constant reflection of the concave shape wall, so spread farther.

The design idea of this sensor is, the electric field linked with the neural pulse will influence the shelly shape of polymer ball, the resonance of the shell inside light of ball is thereupon change too, so, the nervous system will turn into a part of the circuit of photon. Theoretically, resonance of light it changes to be can to imitate the green hand, send the order, for example tell the imitative green hand, the brain wants to move a finger,etc.. Through putting a reflector on the optic fibre top, lead an infrared ray to shine and stimulate the nervous system, its neural signal sent out can be brought to other directions too.

Researchers say, this kind of sensor is still at the prototype to develop stage at present, and the size is too large, unable to install in the human body temporarily, however, as the size is shrinking constantly, this kind of sensor can contribute in the organism. This scientific research project has obtained advanced research of American Ministry of National Defence and planned the office (DARPA) Subsidy of 5,600,000 dollars. Researchers plan to carry on on cat or dog the test of the project sample in 2 years. Before this, researchers need to lessen the size of this kind of sensor to 50 microns from several hundred microns.

This sensor project sample is before using, researchers also needed to connect the nerve to draw out concretely. For example, require patients to try to lift his incomplete arm, in order to couple the relevant nerve to artificial limb.

Christensen says, one day in the future, these sensors and optic fibres can be like " jump the line " The same, form from brain to neural return circuit of the shank, get around the body tissue damaged, let the damaged patient of spinal resume movement ability and consciousness again finally.

However, the expert thinks, though the material that this kind of sensor uses all have biological compatibility greatly, but they can totally avoid arranging the different response and still leaving a question open of the human body.

The editor-in-chief punctuates

There is no common serial bus (USB) The computer of the interface will let today accustomed to the use of U one, people of MP3 or digital camera are unable to imagine. In fact, Christensen,et al. is in " central processing unit " that is the human body Develop a kind of optics " The interface " ,And its range of application will far surmount and control the artificial limb in the future. Develop various cranial nerve signal sensors including above-mentioned apparatus, can further announce the secret of the human brain on one hand, on the other hand will even make this unparalleled supercomputer of the human brain realize the function is extended and expanded. Pass this " The interface " ,The human brain will stimulate one's own enormous latent energy too while changing the external world.



The optical sensor can make the brain directly control the artificial limb