b'Partner News Winter 2020 11AcademicEngineers link brains to computers using 3D printed implantsLinking the human brain to a computer isused to develop new treatments forLinking the human brain to a computer usually only seen in science fiction, buthuman patients with paralysis. The proofvia a neural interface is an ambition for now an international team of engineers andof concept technology has been shown inmany researchers throughout the worlds neuroscientists at the University of Sheffieldthe study to also fit well on the surfaceof science, technology and medicine, with (UK), St Petersburg State University (Russia)of a brain, spinal cord, peripheral nervesrecent stories in the media highlighting and Technische Universitt Dresdenand muscles, opening possibilities in otherefforts to develop the technology. However, (Germany) have harnessed the power of 3Dneurological conditions. innovation in the field is hampered by the printing to bring the technology one stephuge costs and long development time to closer to reality. produce prototypes, which are needed for exploring new treatments.In a new study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the team, ledThe technology promises great potential to by Professor Ivan Minev (Departmentbring new medical treatments for injuries of Automatic Control and Systemsto the nervous system based on a fusion Engineering, Sheffield) and Professor Pavelof biology and electronics. The vision relies Musienko (St Petersburg State University),on implants that can sense and supply tiny have developed a prototype neural implantelectrical impulses in the brain and the that could be used to develop treatmentsnervous system.for problems in the nervous system.The team has shown how 3D printing The neural implant has been used tocan be used to make prototype implants stimulate the spinal cord of animal modelsmuch quicker and in a more cost-effective with spinal cord injuries and could beway in order to speed up research and'