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New wireless photoelectric implant controls the activity of spinal neurons

Researchers have developed a revolutionary wireless photoelectric implant that can control the activity of spinal neurons, enabling the study of neural function and the development of new treatments for neurological disorders. The breakthrough technology uses pulses of light to stimulate or inhibit specific spinal-cord neurons, potenti...

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Biotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2021
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Inflatable robotic hand gives amputees real-time tactile control

Engineers at MIT have developed a soft, lightweight neuroprosthetic hand that enables amputees to perform daily activities with ease. The prosthetic features a system for tactile feedback, allowing users to feel sensations in their residual limb, and is potentially low-cost for low-income families.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateAug 16, 2021

Neurons can shift how they process information about motion

Researchers found that neurons in a specific brain region can switch between reference frames depending on the task, allowing for more efficient information transfer. This flexibility could be used in neural prosthetics and therapies to treat brain disorders.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateJun 15, 2020

Amputees merge with their bionic leg

Scientists have successfully merged three amputees with their bionic legs, allowing them to walk instinctively without mental effort. The new technology uses sensory feedback to deliver information wirelessly to the nervous system, reducing mental burden and improving performance.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 2, 2019

A smart artificial hand for amputees merges user and robotic control

Researchers develop new approach combining individual finger control and automation to improve grasping and manipulation for amputees. The technology uses machine learning and sensor data to interpret user intention and automate object grasp.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·DateSep 11, 2019
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Brain-computer interface advances improve prosthetics, therapies

New research presents significant breakthroughs in brain-computer interfaces, enabling improved prosthetics and therapies for people with conditions such as paralysis, stroke, and blindness. Advanced technologies are being developed to restore task-related sensations to amputees and improve vision for the blind.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·DateNov 6, 2018

Joint efforts towards treating paralysis

Scientists at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne are developing intelligent neuroprosthetics that can decode brain signals and stimulate spinal cord muscles to facilitate walking movements. Clinical trials are currently underway to test the feasibility of these devices on patients with partial paralysis.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·DateMar 12, 2017

Brain-machine interfaces: Bidirectional communication at last

Scientists have created a groundbreaking brain-machine interface that allows for bidirectional communication between the brain and prosthetic limbs. By transmitting sensory feedback to the brain, researchers were able to induce an artificial sensation of movement in paralyzed patients. This innovative technology holds promise for devel...

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNeuron·DateFeb 22, 2017

Soft or firm touch? Study reveals how amputee patients tell the difference

A new study explores the neural decoding of touch intensity in amputee patients, revealing that activation charge rate controls perceived sensation magnitude. This finding could lead to improved artificial touch in next-generation neuroprosthetics.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 26, 2016
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Researchers collaborate in development of brain-friendly interfaces

Researchers have developed a brain-friendly interface using an extracellular matrix environment, which can adapt to the mechanical properties of brain tissue and acquire neural recordings. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of limb loss and spinal cord injuries.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalMicrosystems & Nanoengineering·DateAug 7, 2015

Controlling a robotic arm with a patient's intentions

Caltech researchers successfully implanted a device in a patient with quadriplegia, allowing him to control a robotic arm with his thoughts. The new approach records signals from the posterior parietal cortex, improving motor control and making movements more natural.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalScience·DateMay 21, 2015

Clinical trial shows intuitive control of robotic arm using thought

A clinical trial has successfully implanted a neural prosthetic device in a region of the brain that controls intentions, allowing a paralyzed person to control a robotic arm with their thoughts. This new approach produces more natural and fluid motions compared to current neuroprosthetics.

SourceUniversity of Southern California - Health Sciences·JournalScience·DateMay 21, 2015
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

What can brain-controlled prosthetics tell us about the brain?

Researchers using brain-controlled prosthetics can gain real-time feedback on neural activity, allowing for the study of how the brain encodes information and changes with learning. This technology holds promise for developing new treatments for epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and other neurological disorders.

SourceDrexel University·JournalNeuron·DateApr 8, 2015

University of Houston researchers build brain-machine interface to control prosthetic hand

A team of researchers from the University of Houston has developed a non-invasive brain-machine interface that allows an amputee to control a prosthetic hand with high accuracy. The technology, which uses electroencephalogram (EEG) signals to capture brain activity, enables individuals to grasp objects with ease and precision.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateMar 31, 2015

Touch and movement neurons shape the brain's internal image of the body

Researchers found that tactile and motor neurons respond to visual cues, allowing for dynamic processing of the brain's internal spatial image. This discovery has implications for paralyzed individuals using neuroprosthetic limbs, suggesting a more integrated brain-body experience.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 26, 2013

Full body illusion is associated with a drop in skin temperature

Researchers at EPFL discovered that Full Body Illusions can be accompanied by a decrease in skin temperature, which is highly significant but small. The study used 3D head-mounted displays and robotic devices to induce the illusion, leading to widespread brain activity changes.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·DateJul 30, 2013

Blind patient reads words stimulated directly onto the retina

Researchers successfully streamed braille patterns directly into a blind patient's retina using the Argus II device. The patient accurately read four-letter words and showed excellent spatial resolution, demonstrating the potential for improved reading capabilities with future iterations of the implant.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Neuroprosthetics·DateNov 22, 2012
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

A better thought-controlled computer cursor

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new algorithm called ReFIT that greatly improves the speed and accuracy of thought-controlled computer cursors. The system, which was tested on rhesus monkeys, can control the cursor with speeds approaching those of real arms, while previous systems saw decline in performance over time.

SourceStanford University School of Engineering·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateNov 18, 2012

New energy source for future medical implants: Sugar

MIT engineers have developed a fuel cell that runs on glucose, potentially powering brain implants to help paralyzed patients. The glucose fuel cell strips electrons from glucose molecules to create a small electric current, and its biocompatibility has been proven through platinum catalysts.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 13, 2012

Study shows brain flexibility, gives hope for natural-feeling neuroprosthetics

Neuroscientists at UC Berkeley and Portugal's Champalimaud Center have demonstrated that the brain can be trained to perform tasks it normally doesn't, using plasticity to master purely mental tasks. This breakthrough advances work on brain-machine interfaces, potentially leading to prosthetic devices that feel like natural movement.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature·DateMar 4, 2012
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

New 'smart' materials for the brain

Carbon nanotubes form extremely tight contacts with neuronal cell membranes, creating shortcuts between neurons for enhanced excitability. This breakthrough has the potential to treat traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson's disease, and severe depression by bypassing faulty brain wiring.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateDec 21, 2008

MIT aids creation of neural prosthetic devices

Researchers at MIT have created an algorithm to convert brain signals into action in patients with paralysis or amputations, unifying disparate approaches to neural prosthetic devices. The technique provides a common framework for various measurement techniques and brain regions.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Neurophysiology·DateOct 3, 2007

Harnessing the brain's plasticity key to treating neurological damage

Neural prostheses aim to restore function through electrical stimulation to damaged motor neural circuits, exploiting brain plasticity to enhance treatment outcomes. By engaging the brain in a remediation process, devices can be designed to promote plastic adaptation and optimize performance.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·DateFeb 15, 2007

Stimulation technique holds new promise for spinal cord injuries

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University are developing a new neural prosthesis technology that uses microstimulation to directly stimulate the spinal cord. This approach aims to improve the health and independence of individuals with quadriplegia and paraplegia, who currently lack control over vital functions.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·DateJun 18, 1999
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.