Bionics Help for the disabled

Introduction zBionics is formed from biology and electronics. zBionics is the replacement or enhancement of organs or other body parts by mechanical versions. zBionics is the application of methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology.

Classification of bionic system z1.Analogic synthetic bionic system Eg: 1) Developing radar from the study of bat echo principle. 2)To tensile structures based on spider web. z2.Compositional synthetic bionic system Eg: 1)Human computer interface 2)A person driving a car or wearing a glass.

Human computer interface z Implanting electrodes into the brain z Stimulating the brain - input z Recording from the brain - output z Electrode - neuron interaction

Artificial Organs zAn artificial organ is a man made organ that is implanted in a human to replace a natural organ. zBelow is a list of artificial organ that have been successfully implanted in human Artificial eye Artificial ear Artificial heart Artificial arms and legs with full mobility Artificial urinary bladder

Artificial muscles zDamaged human muscles can be replaced by EAP - Electro Active Polymers. zElectro active Polymers or EAPs are polymers whose shape is modified when a voltage is applied to them. zEAP can undergo a large amount of deformation while sustaining large forces. Due to the similarities with biological tissues in terms of achievable stress and force, they are often called artificial muscles

Robotic arm with 4-finger EAP gripper that is lifted/dropped by an EAP

Artificial hearts zA combination of devices that fits entirely in the chest and is powered by an energy system. zConsists of a pump that mimics the function of the heart and is connected to a small computer and a battery.

How your heart works? zThe average adult human heart pumps blood at a rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute. zIn the first stage, the right and left atria contract at the same time, pumping blood to the right and left ventricles. zIn the second stage, the ventricles contract together to propel blood out of the heart.

A Hydraulic-driven Heart zThe AbioCor, developed by Abiomed, is a very sophisticated medical device, but the core mechanism of the device is the hydraulic pump that shuttles hydraulic fluid from side to side. zTo understand how it works, let's look at the various components of the system:

Diagram of the AbioCor heart

The AbioCor heart The AbioCor heart, which is composed of titanium and plastic, connects to four locations: z Right atrium z Left atrium z Aorta z Pulmonary artery The entire system weighs about 2 pounds (0.9 kg)

Bionic eyes and ears zReplace retina with a device zTranslate images to electric impulses zSilicon retina as the next vision restorer

How your Retina works? zHere is a simple explanation of what happens when you look at an object: zScattered light from the object enters through the cornea. zThe light is projected onto the retina. zThe retina sends messages to the brain through the optic nerve. zThe brain interprets what the object is.

Creating Artificial Sight

Cochlear implants zDuring surgery, electrodes are implanted in the cochlea to replace the nerve cells. zExternal microphone connects to the electrodes. zSignal sent to the brain through the implanted wires and auditory nerve

Cochlear implants

Artificial limb zUsing computer chips to make the knee of a prosthetic leg. zDeveloping a brain implant that can communicate with an external computer.

Artificial limb z A US Army soldier plays foosball with two prosthetic arms

Limitations of bionics zFailure to make tissue material interface zProblems in giving power to the artificial organs. zProblems in mechanical connections zLimitations in the moving speed of artificial limb zLimitations in hearing and in the vision

Future of bionics z1)What Durfee says? Vision by 2040, Limb by 2020, Cochlear by 2030 and bionic person unlikely. z2)What Humphrey says? Vision by 2020, Limb by 2008, Cochlear now and bionic person z3)What Loeb says? Vision by 2050, Limb by 2010, Cochlear now and bionic person unlikely.

Conclusion zIt’s quite likely that in the coming years there will be many interesting developments.

Reference zBionics help for the disabled by Nilesh kakade (IT Magazine Feb. 2006) p42 – p46 zwww.bionik.co.uk zwww.bionics-instrument.com/-4k zwww.bionik.tu-berlin.de/insitut/xstart

Thank you!