Bionics as a new rehabilitation technology for the next generation

Bionics has recently emerged as a new rehabilitation technology for the next generation. Thanks to the advances in neural engineering and bio-MEMS technologies, it has evolved from a Hollywood sci-fi feature to a real bio-engineering field. One of the main issues in bionics is to build a reliable chronic connection between the human neural system and an external electromechanical control or driving unit. The outcomes of this research effort will be applicable to improve the brain-computer interface (BCI) as well as to the development of new rehabilitation technologies. The present lecture will introduce the bionics, a new multidisciplinary bioengineering field, and will also discuss aforementioned technical issues in establishing a reliable chronic connection of man-machine interface.