Microsoft word - proceedingsrt+plim.doc
ICT implants in the human body : a review 21 December 2004 Fabienne NSANZE Introduction Present day uses such as heart pacemakers, cochlear implants and neurostimulators are not the focus of this paper. Rather, attention is given to implants that use computer technology either for control/surveillance or enhancement purposes. Apart from one example (the subdermal RFID device, Verichip™, see below), all of these ICT implantations are active implantable devices for "functional electrical stimulation". They partially replace the neural functions of the body by means of electrodes that establish a direct contact to nerves. http://www.medics-network.com/download/schneidersteiglitz_jf04.pdf "Over the last 50 years, we have seen evolution of pacemaker technologies, as an accepted form of intrusion into human body." This is confirmed by the recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of implantable ID chips in humans, for security, financial and personal identification or safety applications. Besides medical purposes, "for [healthy] beneficiaries, implant technologies involve possibly some future advantages, like rapid math, memory capacity or communication by thought. " [quoted from http://www.unido.org/file-storage/download/?file_id=10499] Categorisation of Implantable Devices Implantable devices can be categorised as medical or non-medical devices, both either passive or active devices.