極小チップを頭に埋め込みコンピュータを動かすBrainGate

ブラウン大学のドナヒュー教授の設立した医療機器会社CyberkineticsのBrainGateは極小チップを体の自由のきかない人の頭に埋め込み脳の電気信号を読み取ってコンピュータを動かすシステム。一方，デューク大学の研究グループは，考えた時の電気信号を感知してロボット・アームを動かす。いずれにしてもこの技術は5年以内に実現することになる。

Though Cyberkinetics is not the first to try neural control in people, it seems the most intent on bringing a product to market, perhaps by 2007 or 2008, said its chief executive, Timothy R. Surgenor.

Professor Nicolelis said: "It is very encouraging because it replicated some of the results we saw in monkeys. "It could allow severely paralysed patients to regain mobility." He hoped the technique could be in place in two to five years.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3600611.stm
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/13/health/13BRAI.html