Neuroprosthetics is an area of neuroscience concerned with neural prostheses,
that is, artificial devices used to replace or improve the function of
an impaired nervous system. The neuroprosthetic seeing the most
widespread use is the cochlear implant, which is in approximately 85,000 people worldwide as of 2005.
An early difficulty in the development of neuroprosthetics was reliably
locating the electrodes in the brain, originally done by inserting the
electrodes with needles and breaking off the needles at the desired
depth. Recent systems utilize more advanced probes, such as those used
in deep brain stimulation to alleviate the symptoms of Parkinsons Disease.
The problem with either approach is that the brain floats free in the
skull while the probe does not, and relatively minor impacts, such as a
low speed car accident, are potentially damaging. Some researchers,
such as Kensall Wise at the University of Michigan,
have proposed tethering 'electrodes to be mounted on the exterior
surface of the brain' to the inner surface of the skull. However, even
if successful, tethering would not resolve the problem in devices meant
to be inserted deep into the brain, such as in the case of deep brain
stimulation [DBS].
