A micro-sensor that could be injected into the brain of those suffering from motor neurone disease and transmit data to a computer is being developed at Birmingham University.

With the system, signals that would have previously controlled muscles could be harnessed to operate artificial speech programs, or an electronic wheelchair. Besides, the sensor package is small enough to be injected using a needle, removing the need for an operation.

According to the researchers, by injecting micro-sensors into the motor cortex of the brain, localised and precise data could be gathered. The sensors would communicate with a relay station implanted on the outside of the brain, under the skull, which would pass the signals to an external processing unit.

The device will be powered by drawing energy from the inductive field of the relay station, removing the need for a power source for the sensor itself.

Via The Engineer Online.