Microelectronic devices for surgical implantation

The surgical implantation of an electronic device is shown to have been made possible by advances (1) in the understanding of the stimulation processes of nerves, (2) in the development of electrical recording of nerve and muscle activity, (3) in transistor technology, (4) in implant technology. Significant developments in these areas are identified, leading up to the history of their bringing together, during the past decade, to enable successful cardiac pacemakers (neuro-electroneural prostheses) to be produced. Recent developments in electroneural systems for visual prosthesis, a pain suppressor and an incontinence aid, and in neuroelectric devices for muscle control are described briefly.