Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Re: Possibility of prosth
From: norbert.koot@canrem.com (Norbert Koot)
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!das-news2.harvard.edu!news4.ner.bbnplanet.net!news3.near.net!paperboy.wellfleet.com!news-feed-1.peachnet.edu!news.duke.edu!news.mathworks.com!news.kei.com!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!news.uoregon.edu!news.bc.net!unixg.ubc.ca!vanbc.wimsey.com!fonorola!portnoy!canrem.com!norbert.koot
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <60.17294.4884.0N1EAB40@canrem.com>
Date: Thu,  6 Jul 95 22:00:00 -0500
Organization: CRS Online  (Toronto, Ontario)
Lines: 31

 -=> Quoting Wrabbit@jaxnet.com to All <=-

 Wr> As I had posted before, I seriously doubt the nerves will be able to
 Wr> deal  with anything attached.  Exposed nerves will atrophy and
 Wr> rejection is a  serious issue.

Nerve atrophy is a problem, but I believe it is atrophy resulting from
disuse, rather than resulting inevitably, that is the problem.  I heard 
that implanted electrodes made of tiny Platinum coils have shown some 
promise in terms of long term effectiveness.  The use of Platinum avoids 
rejection (AFAIK), and coiling it allows flex and stretch.  I heard that 
the real problem is breaking over time.

 Wr> I see an even greater issue with the
 Wr> connection.  It will  have to be made in such a way as to isolate the
 Wr> chemical interaction at the connection from other bodily responses. 

The electrical signal in the electrode induced by the nerve depolarization 
is not that hard to detect using sensitive electronics.  Other chemical 
interactions do not (AFAIK) have the same sharp and sudden characteristics, 
so should not interfere with nerve impulse detection.

One of the problems is isolating the sensitive detection circuitry from 
AC hum, which is right in the middle of the normal frequency range of 
nerve impulses.


Norbert	                 (norbert.koot@canrem.com)

... "Yield to temptation, it may not pass your way again." - L. Long
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12
