Silicon Synapse
The silicon-synapse is Prolume's future vision
of how a protein silicon junction can be made
with the axon of a nerve.

Since proteins can be made to emit light, and light can be detected by silicon integrated circuit chips, we feel that bioluminescent technology has many far ranging applications.

For our silicon-synapse to work, a fluorescent-acetylcholineseterase must be made. A functional fusion of the AChE enzyme with a fluorescent protein whereby the conformation of the fluorescent moiety changes in response to the neurotransmitter.

A fiber laser is always on and shining light at the reflective concave mirror which passes light through the axon and silicon-synaptic junction. The axon is stimulated to stay in proximity with small current and growth factors (a big research project in and of itself).The specialized fluorescent functional fusion molecule is bound covalently to the surface of the photodetection fiber. This fiber is then linked downstream to a computer that can detect the change in fluorescence. Once detected the computer can send a small current to the muscle that can then respond to the spinally injured patient's will. The patient will learn which nerves create which motion.

Figure 1.

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We are also examining the possibility of not using a needle at all by incorporating molecular biology.

Being paralyzed or injured in a way that inhibits voluntary movement is a problem that we are working very hard to solve!

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