• Login
    • Join
  • FOLLOW:
  • Subscribe Free
    • Magazine
    • eNewsletter
    Checkout
    • Magazine
    • News
    • Opinions
    • Top 30
    • Research
    • Supply Chain
    • Device Sectors
    • Directory
    • Events
    • Resources
    • Microsites
    • More
  • Magazine
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Top 30
  • Research
  • Supply Chain
  • Device Sectors
  • Directory
  • Events
  • Resources
  • Microsites
  • Current / Back Issues
    Features
    Editorial
    Digital Edition
    eNewsletter Archive
    Our Team
    Editorial Guidelines
    Reprints
    Subscribe Now
    Advertise Now
    Top Features
    Seeking a Revolution in Clinical Care Through AI

    Diversifying Supply Chains: New Opportunities Post Pandemic and After Brexit

    Addition by Subtraction: The Latest of Machining for Medtech

    Innovation Incubators: An R&D Roundtable

    Virtual Allies: Electronics Manufacturing Services Providers Offer Real Solutions
    OEM News
    Supplier News
    Service / Press Releases
    Online Exclusives
    Press Releases
    People in the News
    Product & Service Releases
    Supplier News
    Medtech Makers
    Technical Features
    International News
    Videos
    Product & Service Releases
    Live From Shows
    Top News
    Japan to Lead APAC Assisted Reproductive Technology Devices Market

    Portescap Slotless Brushless DC Motors Receive ISO 13485 Certification

    FDA Breakthrough Device Designation Given to MI Transcatheter Heart Pump

    Canada Authorizes COVID-19 Diagnostic Assay That Boosts Virus Testing Efficiency

    Terumo to Purchase Predictive Analytics Firm Health Outcomes Sciences
    From the Editor
    Blogs
    Guest Opinions
    Top Opinions
    Seeking a Revolution in Clinical Care Through AI

    Diversifying Supply Chains: New Opportunities Post Pandemic and After Brexit

    Addition by Subtraction: The Latest of Machining for Medtech

    Innovation Incubators: An R&D Roundtable

    Virtual Allies: Electronics Manufacturing Services Providers Offer Real Solutions
    Top 30 Medical Device Companies
    Market Data
    White Papers
    Top Research
    Rethink Your Medtech ASC Strategy, Part 1

    Pandemic-Level Playing Field: How COVID-19 Made Space for Progress

    Tips for Reigniting Your MDR/IVDR Preparation

    Three Major Innovation Opportunities for Biomedical Textiles

    Use Vertical Integration to Increase Productivity, Drive Innovation
    3D/Additive Manufacturing
    Contract Manufacturing
    Electronics
    Machining & Laser Processing
    Materials
    Molding
    Packaging & Sterilization
    R&D & Design
    Software & IT
    Testing
    Tubing & Extrusion
    Cardiovascular
    Diagnostics
    Digital Health
    Neurological
    Patient Monitoring
    Surgical
    Orthopedics
    All Companies
    Categories
    Company Capabilities
    Add New Company
    Outsourcing Directory
    MW Life Sciences

    Medicoil

    Medbio LLC

    maxon

    Concise Engineering
    MPO Summit
    Industry Events
    Webinars
    Live From Show Event
    Industry Associations
    Videos
    Career Central
    eBook
    Slideshows
    Top Resources
    Taking the First Step with Metal Components

    4 Trends Driving Medical Manufacturing in 2021

    Pioneering AI Solutions to Reinforce Healthcare Services

    The 8 Major Types of PPE Supply Chain Fraud

    Evolving Trends in the Medical and Orthopedic Devices Industry
    Companies
    News Releases
    Product Releases
    Press Releases
    Product Spec Sheets
    Service Releases
    Case Studies
    White Papers
    Brochures
    Videos
    Outsourcing Directory
    maxon

    MW Life Sciences

    PTI Engineered Plastics Inc.

    Spectrum Plastics Group

    Medbio LLC
    • Magazine
      • Current/Back Issues
      • Features
      • Editorial
      • Columns
      • Digital Editions
      • Subscribe Now
      • Advertise Now
    • News
    • Directory
      • All Companies
      • ALL CATEGORIES
      • Industry Associations
      • Company Capabilities
      • Add Your Company
    • Supply Chain
      • 3D/Additive Manufacturing
      • Contract Manufacturing
      • Electronics
      • Machining & Laser Processing
      • Materials
      • Molding
      • Packaging & Sterilization
      • R&D & Design
      • Software & IT
      • Testing
      • Tubing & Extrusion
    • Device Sectors
      • Cardiovascular
      • Diagnostics
      • Digital Health
      • Neurological
      • Patient Monitoring
      • Surgical
      • Orthopedics
    • Top 30 Company Report
    • Expert Insights
    • Slideshows
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Resources
    • eBook
    • Infographics
    • Whitepapers
    • Research
      • White Papers
      • Case Studies
      • Product Spec Sheets
      • Market Data
    • MPO Summit
    • Events
      • Industry Events
      • Live From Show Events
      • Webinars
    • Microsite
      • Companies
      • Product Releases
      • Product Spec Sheets
      • Services
      • White Papers / Tech Papers
      • Press Releases
      • Videos
      • Literature / Brochures
      • Case Studies
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise with Us
      • eNewsletter Archive
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
    Columns

    The Human Cyborg, Circa 2033

    ...

    Related CONTENT
    • Rice University Researchers Receive Funding to Develop Covid-19 Sensor System
    • CARMAT Receives Funding to Conduct Artificial Heart Study in France
    • Company Developing a COVID-19 Severity Risk Test for U.S. Government
    • The Future’s So Bright, You Gotta Wear Shades
    • The More Things Change…
    Michael Barbella, Managing Editor06.04.18
    The world is full of Neil Harbissons. So claims billionaire futurist Elon Musk, dreamer extraordinaire and outspoken doomsayer of artificial intelligence who is helming an effort to colonize Mars. Musk contends the Earth’s dominant species has become part cyborg through “machine extensions” of itself (specifically, mobile phones and computers) that are turning human beings into powerful data processing units. “By far you have more power, more capability, than the President of the United States had 30 years ago,” the Tesla and SpaceX CEO told a Future of Life Institute conference audience last year.” If you have an internet link you have an article of wisdom, you can communicate to millions of people, you can communicate to the rest of Earth instantly. I mean, these are magical powers that didn’t exist, not that long ago. So everyone is already superhuman, and a cyborg.”
     
    Indeed we are: The Cyborg Age is well underway, though neither the Web nor social media are entirely responsible for its birth. Increasing numbers of Homo sapiens have become droids, of sorts, in the transcendent quest for eternal youth, beauty, strength, and well-being. As a result, healthcare has become progressively more wired, sensor-filled, and digitally connected: artificial retinas restore sight, cochlear implants augment hearing, deep-brain stimulators (i.e., “brain pacemakers”) treat Parkinson’s disease, and bionic limbs restore movement (and in some cases, feeling) to amputees.
     
    The man-machine merger will likely accelerate over the next decade and a half as technological advances help humankind morph into a cybernetic organism (a living thing both natural and artificial). By 2033, such extraordinary concepts like neuron-strengthening brain chips, implantable wireless video cameras, and cricket ball-sized artificial kidneys could be commonplace.
     
    1. BRAIN
    Engineer and distinguished futurist Dr. Ian Pearson expects the human race to soon gain telepathic powers through a global “server” of sorts that interfaces with the brain. Verbal communication be damned (farewell Google and Siri), finding answers to life’s most pressing questions will be just a thought away, as the answer is made available over a network. The best part about this Danny Torrance-like ability? No need for invasive surgery or significant changes to the brain. “It definitely will not be opening up your head sticking a chip in it,” Pearson told Maxim in 2016. “With just an injection...tiny little nanotechnology-based particles will float through your bloodstream across the blood-brain barrier and connect to the neurons themselves. They will be able to pick up electrical signals directly from those neurons and feed them outside into the IT, and your brain basically becomes part of the IT system.” Naysayers take note: Pearson has an 85 percent proven accuracy when looking 10-15 years ahead, and he predicted the rise of text messaging in 1991—long before anyone had ever heard of email.
     
    2. EYE
    Remember the Six Million Dollar Man’s bionic eye? (Didn’t think so, millennials: It was equipped with a telescopic zoom lens). That dream technology is at long last a reality: The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has funded development of a telescopic contact lens that allows users to zoom in and out in literally a wink. The 1.55 mm -thick lens has a larger diameter and more oxygen permeability than typical soft contacts. Developed in tandem with the lens are “smart” eyeglasses that respond to winks (not blinks), thus enabling the user to readily switch between magnified and regular vision (think Clapper for super vision). The lens gives new hope to the 285 million people worldwide suffering from age-related macular degeneration. Diabetics, meanwhile, stand to benefit from a blood glucose-measuring “smart” contact lens designed by Novartis and Google X.
     
    3. HEART
    The Temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH) from Tucson, Ariz.-based SynCardia Systems LLC works just like its biological counterpart—it is pulsatile and consists of two ventricles and four valves that pump blood throughout the body. The battery powered, self-contained TAH is made of special biocompatible plastic, which offers a high degree of fatigue resistance and strength for long-term durability. The company’s 70cc total artificial heart has been implanted in more than 1,700 patients worldwide (one used the system for nearly four years). Still, the TAH is only approved as a temporary solution for those awaiting a transplant.
     
    4. LUNGS
    There currently are five bionic lung prototypes in development that can assume the body’s gas exchange duties. One model created at the University of Michigan is roughly the size and shape of a can and has two tubes that attach to the pulmonary artery and patient’s left atrium, respectively. The device has no moving parts, as it relies on the heart to pump blood into a chamber, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged through a plastic membrane. The oxygen-rich blood is then returned to the body.
     
    5. PANCREAS
    Medtronic plc debuted its much-anticipated “artificial pancreas” in the U.S. market last June. The hybrid closed-loop system is the only FDA-approved insulin pump that automatically delivers basal insulin to control blood sugar in patients with Type 1 diabetes. Featuring a glucose sensor to measure blood sugar levels in the fluid directly under the skin, the MiniMed 670G insulin pump and infusion patch delivers insulin through a catheter. An algorithm adjusts the background insulin level every five minutes based on real-time data gathered from the sensor. Although the system is designed to make life easier for diabetics who must constantly manage their blood sugar levels, the MiniMed 670G nevertheless requires patients to track their carbohydrates and manually request bolus insulin at mealtimes. Patients also must calibrate the sensor.
     
    6. BONES
    Washington State University researchers have created artificial bone scaffolds through the magic of 3D printing (and a ceramic powder). Using the same printers responsible for producing metal parts found in electric motors, the WSU team covers the ceramic powder with an inkjet layer of plastic binder. The structure is then backed at 2,282 degrees Fahrenheit for 120 minutes and placed into a culture with human bone cells. The scaffold takes to the bone cells within 24 hours.
     
    7. ARMS
    “Star Wars” fans will be tickled to learn that Mobius Bionics named its DEKA Arm System after the film’s main protagonist. Approved in 2014, the LUKE Arm provides amputees with a number of new capabilities, including a powered shoulder joint that can reach overhead or behind the back; an elbow strong enough to lift a bag of groceries from floor to tabletop; a wrist with enough range of motion and fine dexterity to hold a glass of water overhead or at waist level without spilling; and a complex hand with four motors that can hold heavy items and delicate ones like an egg without dropping or breaking either. The system has a sensor that also returns “grip-force” information back to the patient, giving feedback about the firmness of his/her grasp. Another new innovation is the use of foot-mounted inertial measurement sensors connected wirelessly to the arm that offer an alternative means of control. The arm decodes signals from the remains of upper limb amputations and translates them into complex motor tasks. The prosthetic is sized and shaped like a human arm and can replace either a complete limb or only the hand and lower arm.
     
    8. HANDS
    The i-limb from Manchester, N.H.-based Touch Bionic Inc. is designed to look and move like a natural hand. The prosthetic allows users to program up to 24 grip- and movement-control commands into their smartphones. The robotic appendage functions via myoelectric technology, using small sensors to detect minute muscle movements related to the programmed tasks. A small computer in the i-limb translates those barely-noticeable muscle movements into dozens of precise actions. European researchers, coincidentally, are working on a hand that can actually feel objects. A neural interface provides sensory data from the artificial hand to the brain. The interface links the patient’s nervous system to enhanced sensors embedded in the prosthesis, enabling patients to control complex movements.
     
    9. LEG
    The Center for Bionic Medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Ill., has developed the world’s first thought-controlled bionic leg that requires neither nerve redirection surgery nor implanted sensors. An advanced computer program analyzes electromyographic signals (generated by muscle contraction) from sensors on the prosthetic leg. The program decodes the type of attempted movement and then sends those commands simultaneously to the robotic leg’s motorized knee and ankle to produce coordinated movements. Previously, sensors automatically adjusted the angle of the foot during different points in the walker’s stride. 

    [Author's note: In the June 2018 issue of MPO, this appeared as a sidebar within the 15th Anniversary article, which can be read by clicking here.]
    Related Searches
    • implantable
    • innovation
    • human
    • medtronic plc
    Related Knowledge Center
    • Cardiovascular
    • Neurological
    • Digital Health
    Suggested For You
    Rice University Researchers Receive Funding to Develop Covid-19 Sensor System Rice University Researchers Receive Funding to Develop Covid-19 Sensor System
    CARMAT Receives Funding to Conduct Artificial Heart Study in France CARMAT Receives Funding to Conduct Artificial Heart Study in France
    Company Developing a COVID-19 Severity Risk Test for U.S. Government Company Developing a COVID-19 Severity Risk Test for U.S. Government
    The Future’s So Bright, You Gotta Wear Shades The Future’s So Bright, You Gotta Wear Shades
    The More Things Change… The More Things Change…
    15-Year Anniversary: A Reflection on Industry Changes Over MPO 15-Year Anniversary: A Reflection on Industry Changes Over MPO's Lifetime
    Care Chain Consolidation: Tail Wagging the Dog? Care Chain Consolidation: Tail Wagging the Dog?
    The Power of My Voice The Power of My Voice
    Specialized Examination Device Created for Doctors with Limited Mobility Specialized Examination Device Created for Doctors with Limited Mobility
    Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market to Register Commendable 40 Percent CAGR Over 2017-2024 Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market to Register Commendable 40 Percent CAGR Over 2017-2024
    The Importance of Asking the Right Questions The Importance of Asking the Right Questions
    Manufacturing’s Great Opportunity Manufacturing’s Great Opportunity
    HIMSS: Flex Expands Digital Health Capabilities with Google Cloud-Built Managed Services HIMSS: Flex Expands Digital Health Capabilities with Google Cloud-Built Managed Services
    Viz.ai Announces CE Mark for the First AI Powered Direct-to-Intervention System Viz.ai Announces CE Mark for the First AI Powered Direct-to-Intervention System
    Shop Smart: How to Make the Most of the Prototype Phase Shop Smart: How to Make the Most of the Prototype Phase

    Related Columns

    • Cardiovascular
      The Heart of the Matter: Trends in Cardiology

      The Heart of the Matter: Trends in Cardiology

      Of the three major segments of coronary stents, bioabsorbable stents are expected to have the highest growth between now and 2022.
      Maria Shepherd, President and Founder, Medi-Vantage 11.04.20

    • Digital Health
      Digital Health Delivers During a Year for the Ages

      Digital Health Delivers During a Year for the Ages

      Internet of Medical Things technologies have emerged as the key enabler of a much more holistic and complete disease-state management toolbox.
      Brad Womble, Senior Director of Strategy, Marketing, and Mergers & Acquisitions, Jabil Healthcare 11.04.20

    • Digital Health
      What’s Apple Been Up To in Healthcare?

      What’s Apple Been Up To in Healthcare?

      Apple is building its bench with teams of physicians and engineers creating software and hardware to address the healthcare market.
      Maria Shepherd, President and Founder, Medi-Vantage 07.21.20


    • Digital Health
      The Rise of Digital Medical Devices and Implications for the Supply Chain

      The Rise of Digital Medical Devices and Implications for the Supply Chain

      ...
      Tony Freeman, President, A.S. Freeman Advisors LLC 07.21.20

    • Digital Health
      Hospital Advances in Digital Health Medical Technology

      Hospital Advances in Digital Health Medical Technology

      It's been stated, “What the world would have taken five years to achieve was accomplished in five weeks,” regarding virtual care and the U.S. population.
      Maria Shepherd, President and Founder, Medi-Vantage 06.04.20

    • Digital Health
      To Build or To Buy? In Data Analytics, That Is the Question

      To Build or To Buy? In Data Analytics, That Is the Question

      As companies undertake new types of analytics projects that require new skills beyond simple sales reporting, it’s worth revisiting the “build vs. buy” question
      Maria Kliatchko, Principal, ZS 03.04.20


    • Neurological
      Sing Me a Memory: A Digital Music Therapeutic for Dementia

      Sing Me a Memory: A Digital Music Therapeutic for Dementia

      Musical Health Technologies develops products based on growing scientific evidence that music can be a potent tool to treat Alzheimer’s and dementia.
      Sam Brusco, Associate Editor 01.29.20

    • Digital Health
      The Next Medtech Frontier: Digital Health and Home Healthcare

      The Next Medtech Frontier: Digital Health and Home Healthcare

      U.S. health systems want to find ways to reduce costs; however, the shift to treating patients at home instead of admitting them to a hospital is new.
      Maria Shepherd, President and Founder, Medi-Vantage 01.29.20

    • Digital Health | R&D & Design
      Speed Up or Risk Stepping Down: The New Reality of the Connected Healthcare Development Cycle

      Speed Up or Risk Stepping Down: The New Reality of the Connected Healthcare Development Cycle

      Digital health and connected devices are an extraordinary new tool for delivering on improving patient outcomes.
      Joe McBeth, VP Global Supply Chain, Jabil Healthcare 01.29.20


    • Digital Health
      An Update on Digital Health

      An Update on Digital Health

      ...
      Maria Shepherd, President and Founder, Medi-Vantage 11.04.19

    • Cardiovascular
      The TAVR Plot Thickens

      The TAVR Plot Thickens

      Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery has typically targeted patients considered too risky to undergo open-heart surgery.
      Sam Brusco, Associate Editor 09.06.19

    • Contract Manufacturing | Digital Health | Software & IT
      Connecting the Dots in Medical Device Outsourcing

      Connecting the Dots in Medical Device Outsourcing

      ...
      MPO Staff 07.30.19


    • Digital Health | Neurological
      A Breakthrough for the Nightmarish Effects of PTSD

      A Breakthrough for the Nightmarish Effects of PTSD

      ...
      Sam Brusco, Associate Editor 06.13.19

    • Digital Health
      AI in Healthcare: Where Are We Now?

      AI in Healthcare: Where Are We Now?

      ...
      Maria Shepherd, President and Founder, Medi-Vantage 06.13.19

    • Cardiovascular | Diagnostics | Digital Health | Patient Monitoring
      Cardiac Care on the Can

      Cardiac Care on the Can

      ...
      Sam Brusco, Associate Editor 04.03.19


    Trending
    • Portable, Home-Use Device Quickly Measures Inflammation Levels
    • 5 Ways Plastics Revolutionized The Healthcare Industry
    • FDA Approves Daytime Treatment For Sleep Apnea And Snoring
    • Hardy Diagnostics Releases Rapid Test For COVID-19
    • Understanding Food-Grade Vs. Biocompatibility For Medical Device Materials
    Breaking News
    • Japan to Lead APAC Assisted Reproductive Technology Devices Market
    • Portescap Slotless Brushless DC Motors Receive ISO 13485 Certification
    • FDA Breakthrough Device Designation Given to MI Transcatheter Heart Pump
    • Canada Authorizes COVID-19 Diagnostic Assay That Boosts Virus Testing Efficiency
    • Terumo to Purchase Predictive Analytics Firm Health Outcomes Sciences
    View Breaking News >
    CURRENT ISSUE

    January/February 2021

    • Seeking a Revolution in Clinical Care Through AI
    • Diversifying Supply Chains: New Opportunities Post Pandemic and After Brexit
    • Addition by Subtraction: The Latest of Machining for Medtech
    • Innovation Incubators: An R&D Roundtable
    • Virtual Allies: Electronics Manufacturing Services Providers Offer Real Solutions
    • View More >

    Cookies help us to provide you with an excellent service. By using our website, you declare yourself in agreement with our use of cookies.
    You can obtain detailed information about the use of cookies on our website by clicking on "More information”.

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Contact Us

    follow us

    Subscribe
    Nutraceuticals World

    Latest Breaking News From Nutraceuticals World

    New FDA Traceability Rule Appears to Omit Dietary Supplement Manufacturers
    Clinical Trial Finds Metabolic Benefits for Polyphenols Formula
    JRF Technology Debuts Elderberry Oral Film Strip
    Coatings World

    Latest Breaking News From Coatings World

    OQ Chemicals Increases Carboxylic Acids, Esters Prices
    Sensory Analytics Announces Issuance of Broad New Patent Covering Coating Thickness Measurement
    Arkema Reports Full-year 2020 Results
    Medical Product Outsourcing

    Latest Breaking News From Medical Product Outsourcing

    Japan to Lead APAC Assisted Reproductive Technology Devices Market
    Portescap Slotless Brushless DC Motors Receive ISO 13485 Certification
    FDA Breakthrough Device Designation Given to MI Transcatheter Heart Pump
    Contract Pharma

    Latest Breaking News From Contract Pharma

    High Purity New England Bolsters Biopharma Solutions Services
    AMRI Contributes to Efforts to Increase COVID-19 Vax Supply
    CatSci Opens New Site in UK
    Beauty Packaging

    Latest Breaking News From Beauty Packaging

    Inahsi Naturals Achieves EU Compliance
    Biden Prioritizes PPP Relief for the Beauty Industry
    Christie Brinkley Joins SBLA Beauty
    Happi

    Latest Breaking News From Happi

    Clean Beauty Collective Supports EarthDay.org
    Freckle Pens Are Spot On!
    The Detox Market Partners with Good Face Project
    Ink World

    Latest Breaking News From Ink World

    Etiflex Enters New Markets with Nilpeter FA-22 Installation
    Hydrocarbon Solvents Market to Surpass $8.1 Billion by 2030
    Lowe-Martin Adds 2 KODAK NEXFINITY Digital Presses
    Label & Narrow Web

    Latest Breaking News From Label & Narrow Web

    UFlex adds capacity in packaging films
    CEC expands into labels and packaging with Heidelberg
    ABG delivers Digicon Series 3 to UK printer
    Nonwovens Industry

    Latest Breaking News From Nonwovens Industry

    Mexico City Single-Use Plastics Ban Leads to Tampon Shortage
    Believe Diapers Launch in U.S.
    Forbes Ranks Rockline Among Best U.S. Employers
    Orthopedic Design & Technology

    Latest Breaking News From Orthopedic Design & Technology

    Kaia Health Unveils Next-Gen Complete MSK Care Solutions
    First Implantation of CTL Amedica's Minimally Invasive Flex Tower
    NuVasive Nabs Simplify Medical for $150M
    Printed Electronics Now

    Latest Breaking News From Printed Electronics Now

    Comercial Kywi Improves Customer Service, Front-Store Operations with Zebra Mobile Solution
    Global Printed Circuit Board Market Projected to Reach $69.32 Billion by 2027
    RFID Locks Market to Reach $9.93 Billion by 2027: Allied Market Research

    Copyright © 2021 Rodman Media. All rights reserved. Use of this constitutes acceptance of our privacy policy The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Rodman Media.

    AD BLOCKER DETECTED

    Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
    Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.


    FREE SUBSCRIPTION Already a subscriber? Login