An AI-driven system designed for head transplants has been revealed by BrainBridge, a neuroscience and biomedical engineering business that plans to begin operations in eight years. The entire procedure, which is powered by robotic arms and lasers and has horrific sound effects, is shown in an eight-minute computer-generated imagery film that the company released to introduce this revolutionary concept.
The demonstration showed the fully automated system removing heads from donor and recipient bodies simultaneously and swapping them on a conveyor belt. Artificial intelligence guides the intricate operation, making the head transplant theoretically possible. The concept aims to provide new hope for patients with untreatable conditions such as terminal cancer, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and paralysis.
Despite the ambitious plan, significant challenges remain, particularly in repairing nerve and spinal cord damage. Current medical science has not yet achieved adequate solutions for these issues, meaning any head transplant recipient would face paralysis from the neck down. BrainBridge is currently recruiting specialists to address these hurdles, hoping to attract top talent worldwide to push the boundaries of biomedical science.
Hashem Al-Ghaili, the Dubai-based project lead and biotechnologist, stated that every aspect of the BrainBridge concept is based on extensive scientific research conducted by experts in various fields. He emphasized that the technology aims to provide innovative solutions for life-threatening conditions.
The head transplant process involves transplanting a head onto a brain-dead donor body, preserving the recipient's memories, cognitive abilities, and consciousness. The company plans to employ advanced robotic systems to prevent brain cell degradation and ensure compatibility. Real-time molecular-level imaging and AI algorithms will facilitate the precise reconnection of the spinal cord, nerves, and blood vessels.
The procedure will also include a face transplant from the donor, carried out by the same AI-powered robotic surgeon. BrainBridge's system promises to use high-speed robotic systems and polyethylene glycol (PEG) to aid in reconnecting the spinal cord, already utilized in treating spinal cord injuries. The promotional video highlighted cooling the bodies and employing PEG as part of the process.
Following the operation, patients will undergo significant physical rehabilitation and psychological support, with four weeks in an induced coma to allow the transplant sites to heal. The procedure's feasibility remains uncertain, given historical challenges and ethical concerns surrounding head transplants.
The concept of head transplants has fascinated scientists for over a century. The first recorded attempt was in 1908 on a dog, which was unsuccessful. In the 1950s, Dr. Vladimir Demikhov grafted living heads onto other dogs, creating two-headed animals, but none lived long. In the 1970s, Dr. Robert White performed head transplants on rhesus monkeys, with subjects surviving only a few days and remaining paralyzed.
More recently, controversial neurosurgeon Sergio Canavero claimed to have conducted a human head transplant, though both the donor and recipient were deceased, raising doubts about the operation's success. He aims for the first live head transplant, initially planning to operate on a terminally ill man who later changed his mind.
Bioethicist Dr. Paul Root Wolpe has expressed concerns, describing the proposed operation as walking a fine line between medical care and ethical boundaries. Despite skepticism, BrainBridge believes that advances made in this field could lead to significant progress in spinal cord reconstruction and whole-body transplants.
BrainBridge's concept has sparked debate on social media, with many questioning the ethical implications and feasibility of such a procedure. Still, the startup remains determined to revolutionize medical science, potentially offering new treatments for severe conditions.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
