With the advent of internet and advancement in Science, things are really becoming easier and at doorstep! You would be amazed to know in a recent research bypassing of our own vestibular nervous signals is becoming possible by implanting microchip. This would certainly help in curing a few balance disorders. This process of implanting is available on internet for the new scientist subscribers. If you are a non subscriber then just wait and watch!
Often we lost our sense of balances during prolonged illness or accidents. This implantable chip helps people in restoring their senses. In order to balance, we mainly depend on vestibular system. It is a set of fluid filled canals in our inner ear. While any movement, disturbances are being picked up by the tiny hairs. Nerves that are being attached to the canals starts transmitting signals to brain. Simultaneously, brain passes this information to muscles, so that it will control eyes and posture. This intense system often gets damaged with a loud blast, age, infection. This would result in physical disability, such as dizziness and unable to walk.
Earlier by blocking vestibular systems and usage of prosthesis researchers have restored balance in animals. In case, gyroscopes have detected rotation of head then prosthesis helps in transmitting electrical signal to vestibular nerve.
Do you know the smallest gyroscope measures around 1 centimeter long? Thus, if you want to implant the entire system is too big!
Image:weblogsinc
Via:medgadget
