Bioinspired Devices: Emulating Nature’s Assembly and Repair Process

Synopsis

A Goal Of Clinicians Is To Restore The Body And Brain Function Of An Individual Who Has Suffered Injury And Loses Capabilities Such As Walking, Using The Hands, Speaking, Remembering, And Planning Ahead. There Is Great Optimism Within The Clinical Community That We May Be Able To Use Scientific Principles And New Technologies To Restore Lost Function In These Individuals. A Goal Of This Book Is To Integrate Advances In Neuroscience, Integrative Biology, Biomechanics, Developmental Science, Computer Science, And Engineering To Bring Us Closer To The Vision Of Devices That Harness Neuroplasticity For Restoring Lost Function. The Book Presents A Bio-inspired Approach To Developing Such Devices. A Bio-inspired Device Is A System Whose Design And Manufacture Are Based Upon The Principles By Which Living Systems Build. The Sources Of Inspiration For This New Generation Of Devices Include How Cells Form Functional Systems And Organs, How Systems Maintain Stability Despite A Constant Turnover Of Materials, How System Components May Participate In Different Functions, And How Biological Systems Evolve, Develop, And Learn.-- Part I. Biological Inspiration From Nature's Building And Repair Processes: Bioinspired Devices As Parts Of Complex Systems -- How Nature Builds: Physical Law, Morphogenesis, And Dynamical Systems -- What Nature Builds: Materials And Devices -- Building Devices The Way That Nature Does -- Part Ii. Structure-function, Development, And Vulnerabilities Of Nervous Systems: Nature's Nervous System Networks -- Human Nervous System: Development And Vulnerability -- How Nature Remodels And Repairs Neural Circuits -- Part Iii. Understanding And Emulating Nature's Response To Injury Or Damage: Neuroprosthetics: The Embodiment Of Devices -- Neurorehabilitation For Remodeling And Repairing Injured Nervous Systems -- Toward Devices That Are Seamless Parts Of Collective, Adaptive, And Emergent Systems. Eugene C. Goldfield. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.