DARPA: FlatScope/Cam Brain Implants
Channel: Civil Disturbia
Date: 2017-07-23

Researchers are developing the FlatScope in partnership with the DARPA defence agency as part of the Neural Engineering System Design (NESD) program, with the aim of developing a fully functioning, implantable system that enables communication between the brain and the digital world.

"Such an interface would convert the electrochemical signaling used by neurons in the brain into the ones and zeros that constitute the language of information technology, and do so at far greater scale than is currently possible," says DARPA.

Eventually, it could allow partially sighted or blind people to see the world through a camera attached to their shirt, though that's still a long way off.

Right now all the team has is a prototype that sits on top of the brain and detects optical signals from neurons in the cortex.

Rather than the 16 electrodes that the best brain monitoring systems have today, FlatScope could deal in thousands when it's ready to go, the researchers say.

They're working with bioluminescenceexperts to figure out ways of getting neurons to release photons when triggered, creating a light show that reveals more about the inner workings of the brain.

The team is also building on work they've done with the FlatCam: a super-thin, low-powered camera sensor that could be used in an implant.

SOURCES: 
http://www.sciencealert.com/this-flat-microscope-sits-on-top-of-the-brain-to-fix-vision-problems
https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2017-07-10