A bionic eye, a new heart grown in the lab, spinal implants that will help quadriplegics walk again… Will we soon be able to replace any body part at will?
Things have certainly come a long way since Australian scientists first developed the bionic ear 30 years ago.
That first relatively crude cochlear implant has morphed into what one of its creators calls “the world’s most sophisticated medical bionics device” — with researchers now working on versions that will allow users to enjoy music and distinguish individual voices in a crowd.
Scientists are now looking at ways of using the experience gained from the cochlear implant to create a range of other spare parts for the human body.
It’s an endeavour that puts some unlikely experts together in the same room, from doctors and neuroscientists, to experts in wireless technology, to those developing new types of plastic for replacement parts. more>>>
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