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42 EE|Times EUROPE — Boards & Solutions Insert
tra o o er ionic C ip ro ises A ei er s reat ent

raw nerve stimuli instantly, regardless of the size and complexity of
the system.
Recent efforts to construct quantitative neuronal computational
models have focused on the generalization of the Hodgkin-Huxley
(HH) model to multichannel models.

The miniature silicon devices model
biological ion channels to mimic the work
of real neurons. In practice, they represent

connecting bridges at points where a neural
canal is interrupted.

The Bath researchers collaborated with scientists from the Swiss
University of Zurich and the University of Auckland (New Zealand),
as well as Italian researchers, to design artificial neurons intended
to restore functions compromised by neurodegenerative disease.
They published their results in Nature Communications.
The team’s miniature silicon devices model biological ion chan-
nels to mimic the work of real neurons. In practice, they represent Figure 2: Twin experiment with a solid-state neuron. (a) Mem-
connecting bridges at points where a neural canal is interrupted. brane voltage of a sub-threshold neuron (black line) stimulated by
“[For] any area where you have some degenerative disease, such a current protocol mixing hyperchaotic oscillations with current
as Alzheimer’s — or where the neurons stop firing properly because steps (blue line). (b) Membrane voltage predicted by the model for
of age, disease, or injury — in theory, you could replace the faulty a different current. (c) Detail of membrane voltage oscillations.
(d) Predicted time dependence of several state variables. (e) Phase
portrait of action potentials over the assimilation window.
(Image: Nature Communications)

bio-circuit with a synthetic circuit,” said Alain Nogaret, a physicist
who led the project at the University of Bath.
The implantable chips consume only 140 nanowatts, roughly
a billionth of the energy required by a microprocessor. Ultra-low
energy consumption is important because it means the chip can
operate battery-free, relying entirely on energy harvesting.
The next goal for the scientists will be to examine less invasive,
non-surgical methods for applying deep brain stimulation to deliver
the treatment, making it easy to support artificial-intelligence
WE ARE Customer satisfaction is a implementation and bringing access to more patients.
Solid-state neurons, as a stream of electrons, respond almost
top priority at Elma.
identically to biological neurons under stimulation by a wide range
READY Our engineers have been of current algorithms that simulate the brain environment. Future
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work will look to increase the efficiency of the response and improve
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SYSTEMS, ENCLOSURES
info@elma.de and ROTARY SWITCHES. NANOELECTRONICS IN MEDICINE
YOUR We advise you - The Bath team’s silicon neurons are an example of bioelectronic
medicine, which uses artifi cial materials to mimic natural circuits and
individually and adapted to
processes. Figures 1 and 2 show the study of circuit analysis and the
PROJECT your needs and projects. relevant simulations published in the scientifi c article.
Contact us!
The chip is a technological leap for the implementation of nano-
electronics in medicine. There is even the possibility of installing
GPS and other control solutions for several vital parameters. The
chips can activate various signals at specific times and might be
used to measure heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose levels,
and more.
CONTACT US VISIT US AT THE In short, the progress of nanoelectronics is transforming us into digi-
info@elma.de EMBEDDED WORLD tal human beings, increasingly “connected” in all senses of the word. ■
+49 7231 9734 0 25.02. - 27.02.20
www.elma.com Halle1 - Stand 473 Maurizio Di Paolo Emilio is a staff correspondent at AspenCore
editor o o er ectronics e s and editor in c ie o e .

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