New Interface Could Wire Prosthetics Directly Into Amputees' Nervous Systems

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New Interface Could Wire Prosthetics Directly Into Amputees' Nervous Systems

Posted by samzenpus on Monday March 5, 2012 @05:18AM from the we-can-make-him-better dept.

cylonlover writes "Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories have announced a breakthrough in prosthetics that may one day allow artificial limbs to be controlled by their wearers as naturally as organic ones, as well as providing sensations of touch and feeling. The scientists have developed a new interface consisting of a porous, flexible, conductive, biocompatible material through which nerve fibers can grow and act as a sort of junction through which nerve impulses can pass to the prosthesis and data from the prosthesis back to the nerve. If this new interface is successful, it has the potential to one day allow nerves to be connected directly to artificial limbs."

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The cyborg limbs get hacked.... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-05 05:21 · Score: 5, Funny

Stop punching yourself.
Stop punching yourself.
Stop punching yourself.
1. Re:The cyborg limbs get hacked.... by Tablizer · 2012-03-05 07:58 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  God, I have a hell of an urge to allow such "technology" on politicians.
  Let's change our voting system so that we can optionally issue a punch instead of a vote. CEO's also.
  "Sir, you are wearing out the lever. Please let others have their turn."
  
  --
  Table-ized A.I.
Holy Crap by Bovius · 2012-03-05 05:30 · Score: 3, Insightful

I know this is still a research project and they don't know how well it's actually going to work in practice, but the fact that we're approaching a machine-nerve interface at all is incredible. If they are successful, they will end up with a permanent, prominent place in our history books.
Good work, people.
1. Re:Holy Crap by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-05 05:55 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  I saw the same functionality, i.e., artificial limbs controlled by a machine-nerve interface, demoed during a plenary talk at the 2008 IEEE Engineering in Biology and Medicine conference, and the results were incredible. One man, who had lost an arm, but had one of these artificial ones grafted on, was practically as dexterous as those with a natural arm and was able to interact with everyday objects with ease.
Making tech level progress... by torchdragon · 2012-03-05 05:31 · Score: 5, Funny

Excellent! Now we can build Copters, Thinkers, Drop Pods and start work on the The Cyborg Factory.

--
"Don't feel bad for me child; I'm the monster that hides under your bed."
1. Re:Making tech level progress... by nospam007 · 2012-03-05 05:59 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  "Excellent! Now we can build Copters, Thinkers, Drop Pods and start work on the The Cyborg Factory."
  Mmm, I was more along the line like fitting a man, a former astronaut named Steve Austin from OSI with implants for ...let's say 6 million dollars.
  And now get off my lawn.
2. Re:Making tech level progress... by bytethese · 2012-03-05 07:00 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Except now he'd be the $27,586,004.06 man. Gotta love inflation!
Re:Wireless mouse by ColdWetDog · 2012-03-05 05:33 · Score: 5, Funny

You'd better add a spell checker to that list of things you want implanted.

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Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
Re:Sarif by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-05 05:34 · Score: 3, Funny

Unfortunately I think we are sans a company called Sarif for now.
Re:Resistance is futile... by PPH · 2012-03-05 05:41 · Score: 5, Funny

Overlords? You need to step up to the hacker challenge.
Step one: Install root kit in 7 of 9's interface. Step two: Party!

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Have gnu, will travel.
Adverse Events by Milo+Fungus · 2012-03-05 05:48 · Score: 5, Interesting

I am a doctor. In fact, I am a neurologist (IAAN). This article is fascinating, and I hope they keep working on this technology and get it working. That being said, I would never plug one of these things into my own amputated limb. Going to medical school and doing residency have turned me into something of a Luddite. Medical technology is cool, but every treatment has potential benefits and toxicities. The adverse event I would worry about most with this technology is neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is notoriously difficult to treat. What if you plugged this device into some amputee's limb and gave them excruciating pain? I would rather have a metal hook for a hand.
Re:Resistance is futile... by cp.tar · 2012-03-05 05:51 · Score: 4, Funny

Rooting her kit comments in five... four...

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Ignore this signature. By order.
People underestimate the power of the organic. by gurps_npc · 2012-03-05 06:03 · Score: 3, Insightful

1) Organic fails WELL. By that I mean, it causes pain and minor damage before you do something stupid that destroys the entire organic object. Electronics fail badly. Little if any warning, and it operates on the performance edge, so sudden failure is usually catastrophic.
2)Organics do minor self repair, for free (if time+ food = free). They are built to accept the minor damage it gives (see option 1) above.
3) Organic maintenance is limited and automatic inbuilt. We call it SLEEP. Electronic maintenance involves constant attention to detail - oils, software patches, etc.
4) Organics are evolved/designed to run far inside maximum tolerances. In extreme circumstances, they have hidden reserves that suddenly become accessible.
5) Organics are self-replicating. No need for a factory.

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excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
Let's all be realistic by JustNilt · 2012-03-05 06:30 · Score: 3, Insightful

If this new interface is successful
As with so many articles I see about "breakthroughs", this is the key bit. The researchers probably just needed another round of funding so they released some information about it. Call me when we actually have serious trials and it's about to start final testing.

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You know the thing about UDP jokes? I don't care if you get it or not.