BioBolt showing microcircuit film sensor
To have a brain implant that works your brain must be exposed with current technology. Unless you are into hats, then this is not a practical option. University of Michigan has a solution that stays outside the bone. Reading neural signals from the brain as best sensed with direct contact, second best being exo-skull, and least accurate is completely external. Toys may work ok external to the skin, but the skin is a fairly good insulator and prevents solid reading without proper contacts. Professor Euisik Yoon, leading the team on the case, takes the device, dubbed the BioBolt, and screws directly into the skull making contact with the brain. The Biobolt is then covered with skin to prevent the infection. Yes, the Biobolt is in the shape of a hex bolt, which must aid in its implantation.
The BioBolt's sensors are placed on the bottom that are in contact with the brain. The overall pattern of neurons are sensed. The signals are amplified, filtered, and translated to data and sent through the patients skin to a computer. Using the skin as a signal pathway, the BioBolt's power demand is kept quite low.
The next step for Yoon and his team is to send the BioBolt's data through the skin to another device to collect and store the data for long periods of time. Yoon mentions the use of a watch or pair of earrings for this purpose. Another step is to use the same signals through the skin to stimulate a paralyzed limb or body part, as a sort of bypass to a failed nervous system.
I would like the shape changed before I implant such a device. Sharp bolt patterned edges sound uncomfortable.
Eavesdropper
