Three ways to build a better human
BY Robert Near
The human body: so soft; so fallible; so old-fashioned. In the 21st century, it’s all about using the latest technology to make us healthier, smarter, faster, stronger. Below we look at a few enhancements that might soon be arriving at a hospital, or military base, near you.
1. Brain enrichment Scientists at the University of Southern California have designed an artificial hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for processing memories. People with impaired memory, such as Alzheimer’s patients, could one day have this “memory chip” implanted into their brains so their cognitive functions could return to full capacity. Over at Osaka University, neurosurgeons are developing one of the most audacious neurosurgical technologies yet: electrode sheets that can be placed onto the brain and allow a person to directly control robotic limbs with his or her thoughts.
2. Organ upgrades London’s Moorfields Eye Hospital recently implanted an Argus II artificial retina into the eyes of two blind patients, letting them distinguish between patterns of light and dark spots. A previous beneficiary of the technology can now play basketball with her grandson. The Argus II will only improve: currently it uses 60 electrodes to transmit the necessary info between the eye and brain, but scientists in California are developing a new model that will use 1,000 electrodes. Meanwhile, an Ohio company has created the NeuRx DPS RA/4 Respiratory Stimulation System, an implantable device that electrically stimulates the muscles and nerves of the diaphragm so spinal cord injury patients can breathe for up to four hours unaided. Superman himself, Christopher Reeve, tested it and was able to breathe machine-free for 20 hours.
3. Boning up The U.S. Department of Defense’s central R & D organization has plans to develop a “fracture putty” that would speed up healing time for compound fractures. Ideally, this complex putty could be packed in and around the fracture, allowing the wounded to quickly put a full load on the broken limb. With compound fractures being serious and common injuries among soldiers, it’s no surprise the U.S. Department of Defense is investigating this technology; after all, it’s hard to engage in combat with a broken leg.
