oa The Role of Platinum Metals in Neurological Prostheses

Prostheses are devices for restoring artificially some function lost through accident or disease. Neurological prostheses, therefore, are surgically implanted microelectronic devices which seek to ameliorate the results of neurological defect. Examples are: implants for treating incontinence, or for recovering some use of paralysed arms and legs following spinal accident; implants for patients who are blind as a result of damage to the eye or optic nerve; implants for patients who are deaf as a result of damage to the inner ear. In addition, there are some implanted devices which are not strictly prostheses; for example, implants for relieving pain, and implants for correcting curvature of the spine in children. Despite the variety of purposes for which neurological prostheses are built, they have in common that they are all nerve stimulators and can all be realised using, substantially, the same technology. This article discusses the technology for implant-making which has been worked out at this Unit, and shows the essential role played by noble metals in that technology.