DARPA considers muscle neural interfaces to be very promising
In 10 years, neurointerfaces will "do away" with disability
Alexey Dmitriev, MK
Engineers of the American defense scientific agency DARPA announced significant progress in the field of muscle neurointerfaces, which are being developed under the special military program RE-NET (Reliable Neural-Interface Technology, reliable neural interface technology – VM).
Peripheral neurointerface using tiny implantable electrodes
connects nerve fibers to the electronics of the prosthesis. Fig.: DARPA
The US military is actively engaged in peripheral (muscle) interfaces. The fact is that in the case of amputation, for example, of the hand or leg to the knee, the use of complex invasive brain neural interfaces is not justified: it would be easier to read nerve impulses from the nerves of the damaged limb. Thus, the Pentagon hopes to return to normal life at least 2,000 soldiers who have lost arms and legs since 2000.
DARPA considers muscle neural interfaces to be very promising and is actively working on appropriate technologies that will ensure a reliable and long-term connection of the prosthesis with the human nervous system.
In the future, such neural interfaces can also be used by healthy soldiers – to control special equipment and equipment.
According to DARPA, the new peripheral interfaces developed under the RE-NET program have already come close to the characteristics of the most advanced modern brain neural interfaces and at the same time demonstrate greater reliability and better survival in the recipient's body.
According to DARPA project manager Jack Judy, peripheral interfaces are not as traumatic as brain interfaces and are great for rapid rehabilitation of amputees. Currently, the first prototypes of RE-NET systems are already being tested on wounded soldiers.
We are talking about a special type of peripheral interface TMR (Targeted Muscle Re-innovation, targeted muscle reinnervation – VM), which was developed at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), writes cnews.ru . This neurointerface provides repeated innervation of muscles, and an artificially created mechanoelectronic prosthesis acts as a replacement for the amputated part of the body. TMR not only allows you to control the prosthesis like your own hand or foot, but also returns sensitivity, although now the role of tactile sensors are not receptors in the skin, but sensors in the artificial covering of the prosthesis.
Compared to most other interfaces, TMR does not require visual communication with the prosthesis, that is, it can be operated blindly, just like a normal live hand. It seems like a minor achievement, but nevertheless, it is an important part of our daily life. For example, we rummage in a bag in search of keys without looking inside – more recently, disabled people could not even dream of a prosthesis with such a possibility.
The TMR research will continue until 2016 and – possibly – in 10 years the universal peripheral neurointerface will be ready for mass use.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru05.06.2013