Researchers create ‘sewing machine’ to implant electrodes in brains

A group of scientists claim to have developed a new way to quickly implant brain electrodes through a ‘sewing machine’, which could eventually lead to a brain computer.

A team of scientists associated with tech entrepreneur Elon Musk said that they have invented a new way to ‘rapidly implant’ electrical wiring into brains of rats while testing via a ‘sewing machine’ implantation system, as dubbed by the authors, reported Bloomberg.

The sewing machine for the brain involves scientists removing a piece of a rat’s skull and inserting a single stiff needle that sends bendable, flexible and thin polymer electrodes deep into brain tissue. The machine injects an electrode every few seconds, which is much faster than alternative methods. Attached to the device is a small circuit board that sits on the back of the rat’s head and records the brain signals.

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Though human testing is still years away, the researchers are optimistic that their implantation system could facilitate the creation of an artificially intelligent mind-reading brain-computer interface as well, wrote Futurism. The study published in bioRxiv was funded by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) where it awarded $2.1 million for the project.

“Although more research is needed to refine the overall interface system and better integrate its components, these developments may ultimately open the possibility of bundling next-generation robotics, AI software, and electronics to create alternatives to present-day neurosurgical techniques,” DARPA biotech director Justin Sanchez told Bloomberg.