Human Biology Signature Assignment

Torin Chadburn

Bio-machine interfaces (BMIs), systems that merge biology and technologies for the

purpose of enhancing or saving lives, are an essential and important part of our further medical

advancement. They come in many different varieties and perform many different functions, from

pacemakers that regulate heart rate, to brain computer interfaces (BCIs) that can allow amputees

to control robotic prosthetics (1). The study of BMIs is only beginning to accelerate, the field is

still in its infancy and the scope of what these technologies can be used to accomplish is not yet

fully known. Already we have the ability to take over the blood filtering functions of a faulty

kidney with a machine, or implant a defibrillator to correct an arrhythmic heart. But research into

bio-machine interfaces is consistently yielding new treatments and technologies that even further

push the boundaries of what is possible. Just 2 days ago at the time of writing this, an article was

released about the application of nanochips to treat traumatic muscle loss (2).

One of the most useful types of BMI is the BCI. Due to the brain being the control center

for the rest of the body BCIs are used in conjunction with other types of BMIs in order to create

more efficient and balanced systems (3). They can also be used to form new connections

between the brain and the external environment. These connections can be outgoing, in the form

of impulses to prosthetic limbs or text displaying monitors, or incoming, in the form of

extrasensory input from aforementioned prosthetic limbs or a synthetic eye. And these sorts of

devices are not only limited to medical use, in the future they could be employed in daily living

to communicate or access information the way we use cell phones today. We have only begun to

explore what can be accomplished with the meshing of biology and technology. Bio-machine
interfaces are a powerful tool and their continued development is important and worth devoting

resources to.

References:

(1) MarcoVilela, Leigh R.Hochberg, Applications of brain-computer interfaces to the control

of robotic and prosthetic arms.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780444639349000081

(2) Indiana University, Silicon nanochips could treat traumatic muscle loss.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/11/221109124356.htm

(3) Kristen Fischer, What Is a Brain-Computer Interface in Medicine?

https://www.webmd.com/brain/brain-computer-interface

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