Brain implant technology is rapidly advancing and can help people find their voice or overcome neurological disorders. But what happens when an implant is no longer supported by its manufacturer?
It's hard enough to upgrade to a newer model when your five-year-old smartphone no longer supports updates. If you're talking about gadgets implanted in your brain, that's a completely different matter. That's hardware that your local repair shop can't handle.
After summarizing existing research on technology abandonment, the authors of a recent review added their own suggestions for creating guidelines to prevent the problem from becoming a bigger issue in the future.
“This study established a formal definition of neurological device abandonment, which is important for the development of guidelines, policies, and laws that collectively have the potential to reduce or prevent such abandonment.” “possibly,” the researchers wrote in a published paper.
The authors acknowledge that technology is constantly evolving, and as newer, more sophisticated devices come to market, they require resources for upgrades and repairs.
With that in mind, implantable devices need to be built to last, researchers say. Clear guidelines need to be set for ongoing support, and there needs to be a safety net in place in case something goes wrong.
The researchers point to cases where implant manufacturers went out of business and patients' implants had to be removed for safety reasons. “It was like taking away a part of me that made me complete,” the patient said.
According to the researchers, not providing sufficient information to patients about what is expected of them, not fulfilling all responsibilities for lifelong support of the implant, and failing to address urgent needs (such as infections) can all lead to This will be considered abandonment of the device. These are contingencies that must be protected.
The study allows for some exceptions, such as devices being tested in clinical trials. Although there is no point in continuing implant support if the trial is not successful, trial participants should be fully informed and provided with appropriate support at each stage.
We recently witnessed the first living human implant with Elon Musk's Neuralink, and the recipient, a 29-year-old man who was left paralyzed after a diving accident, said it changed his life. Says. Of course, this technology has great potential, but it must be used safely and responsibly.
The team behind this research hopes that this study will spark further debate around implant abandonment and, ultimately, the policies and laws that need to be put in place to ensure these innovations continue to transform lives. I'm looking forward to it.
“We encourage such discussions and welcome participation to advance such objectives, especially as the device expands into neuropsychiatric indications,” the researchers wrote.
This research JAMA network open.
