Medical bionics research aims to replace or enhance the function of parts of the body by recording and/or stimulation of nerves by electronic devices placed within the body. Thirty years after the first prototypes were implanted surgically, the cochlear implant is still the most sophisticated medical bionics device in routine clinical use. Designing and optimising a medical device requires solutions to multiple physical problems including the efficient transmission of power and data through body tissue, hermetic sealing of electronics in the hostile environment of the body, development of safe and effective electro-neural interfaces, and the perceptual effects of varying physical stimulus parameters in sensory prostheses. The talk will touch on all these topics and focus on an overview of the psychophysics of electro-neural interfaces in cochlear and retinal implants.

RSVPs are essential and spaces are limited, so please reply to the Victorian AIP Branch honorary secretary (details below) by end of business day Tuesday July 13th. Members who have RSVP will be notified promptly. Metered parking is on the streets nearby until 6pm and there is St Vincents car park a few doors down from the Institute. If you are behind in your membership you are invited to renew so that you can benefit from this opportunity.

Members are encouraged to join the speaker and members of the Branch Committee for dinner following the talk at a local restaurant. In order to assist with table reservations please contact the Honorary Secretary (email below) by Monday 12th of July.

Dr. Scott Wade (Honorary Secretary)
Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Science, Swinburne University of Technology
Mail H66, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
Phone: (03) 9214-4339, Email: swade@swin.edu.au