Tissue Computing Arrives With Customized “Live” Neurons
For Immediate Release: March 1, 2022
It is well known human brains can massively outperform Classic digital silicon chip computers when addressing certain processing applications. Given this fact, many computer companies, universities, and others have been diligently pursuing means to emulate the performance of human brain neurons in some form of a modified or enhanced digital chip.
Based upon the continually expanding market demand for lightning processing speeds, and massive data storage capacities offered by neuron processing, IBM, Intel, Graphcore, BrainChip, and others have developed special performance enhanced computer chips and are offering limited access to these neuron processing chips thought their existing cloud service operations.
This enhanced neuron emulating digital chip approach is having some success. However, all digital chips are performance limited by the physical constraints of the chip and motherboard architecture. Conventional digital computers with chips and motherboards, no matter how enhanced, will never achieve the levels of performance of a Tissue Computer operating with custom designed live neurons.
Classical digital computers with chips and motherboards,
no matter how enhanced, will never achieve the
levels of performance of a Tissue Computer
operating with custom designed “live” neurons
In conjunction with the increasing demand for higher processing speeds and massive data storage capacities, leading scientist and entrepreneurs moved to gaining processing access to the human brain. Their desire was to access the processing power of live neurons in the brain. To achieve access, Neuralink (Elon Musk), Blackrock Neurotech (Peter Thiel), Synchron, BrainGate, and others diligently pursued the creation of Brian Computer Interface (BCI) devices.
BCI devices are designed to allow digital data from a Classic computer to be delivered to the human brain, and for the neuron pluses of the human brain to be collected and delivered, in a digital format, to a Classic digital computers and digital networks. These BCI development efforts are proving successful, with at least Neuralink, Blackrock Neurotech, and Synchron either in, or preparing to begin, clinical trials on their BCI devices.
These BCI accomplishments are significant because, a portion of this advanced BCI technology is directly transferrable to the Neuron to Digital Interface (NDI) device, which is one of the six elements that form the Tissue Operating Device (TOD™). Only a portion of the BCI is needed because the TOD™ system, does not use or interact with human neurons or the human brain. NDI devices reside only within the Tissue Computer (TC) and never a human. They are not a medical device, and their use requires no clinical trials or regulatory approvals.
Illustrated in the Table are the six unique elements of the TOD™ system. They include digital hardware, Items [1] and [2], which are currently commercially available. There are two classes of software required to operate the TOD™ system. One, Item [3], addresses the operating system, utilities, and application programs associated with the operations of the digital computers. This class of software is commercially available with the need for slight adaptions and modification to address the specific TOD™ requirements. There are many available, experienced software engineers and programmers to address these required software changes.
The second class of software, Item [4], operates within the TOD™ digital computers, but is solely dedicated to addressing management of the TC. This special class of live neuron management software is focused on performing and controlling TC operations. These tasks include controlling neuron processing activities and data storage management, plus control of the TC environment that maintains and nurtures the millions of live neurons. At first glance, neuron management software presents a design and development challenge.
However, early research and development efforts have established a major portion of the needed software has previously been developed to support the neuron processing efforts of IBM, Intel, Graphcore, BrainChip, and others. In addition, many universities, non-profits, and brain research facilities have created neuron processing software to address neuron-controlled prosthetic devices, aid in brain injury recovery, and address other disabilities.
The result, a significant library of relevant neuron processing software is available. As indicated in the Table, many of these libraries are maintained by the thirteen or more Open-Source neuron processing software groups and communities. Many members of these groups and communities are highly experienced and skilled in both neuron processing software engineering and programming, and available to support TC software development and modifications.
As discussed, Item [5], the NDI device, is available from one of three or more suppliers. This element is ready to support production of millions of TOD™ systems.
Item [6], the Tissue Computer (TC), operating with millions of live neurons, is the crown jewel of the TOD™ system. All of the other Items, [1] through [5], are either commercially available, or with modifications, can be adjusted to meet the requirements of a TOD™ system.
Item [6] represents the first major commercial and consumer deliverable TC. This new type of computer had many unique issues and requirements that created design challenges. To assure continuous and robust processing, the TC had to be designed to operationally support neuron processing and provide a living tissue environment for all the millions of TC resident neurons.
To remain effective in addressing processing application, the many millions of neurons within the TC needed to be structured and configured in an ordered and programmable computer architecture. Using the Management Computer and/or the TOD™ Configured Laptop computer, these neurons needed to be accessible and controllable by the system administrator, operating systems, and users.
As discussed in numerous Articles available from BCM, and recent news releases, the selected premium architecture for TC was a modular, expandable, processing array. To avoid operational and processing chaos, the TC array included two specialized tissue structures. One is the TC Disk, and the other is the TC Cord.
Each TC Disk is a tissue cluster commonly populated with a million live neurons. The TC Cord is a tubular tissue structure, also populated with live neurons. The TC Disk functions as powerful neuron processor, and the TC Cord forms the links of the TC internal neuron data network. This network instantly moves massive amounts of data between the many TC Disks to assure maximum, and complete joint utilization of the processing capacity available from the full TC array.
As recognized leaders in the development of advanced tissue engineering structures and technologies, the BCM Team has designed and constructed numerous TC Disks and TC Cord structures. They have refined these designs and cell growth management processes to assure the optimum performance of the TC.
The neurons selected to populate the TC must meet many important and unique requirements. They must be able to receive and accept both digital and a multiple number of various types of raw direct sensor data. They must be able to reliably respond to user commands and control directions, receive, store, and retrieve data, erase data upon command, and rapidly process data. Using the TC Cord internal neuron data network, they must communicate with other TC Disks in the array and fulfill many more operational and processing requirements.
To optimize fulfillment of these requirements, the BCM Team created a new neuron technology and cell growth process that allows tailoring and customizing of the development and growth of neurons (nerve cells). These custom designed “live” neurons assure maximum processing speed, throughput, and data storage performance from the TC.
Custom Designed “Live” Neurons
Assure Maximum Processing Speed,
Throughput, and Data Storage Performance
The next two steps in the development process are, first, to assemble all six listed elements together, as a united and complete TOD™ system. This step includes operational system integration, component and system testing, and performance refinements. These events will occur at the TOD™ System Integration Lab (SIL) in New Jersey.
The other step is the complete assembly of the newly designed, TC Disk and TC Cord, automated manufacturing facility. This advanced tissue and neuron populating manufacturing process is modular in design, allowing for rapid expansion of the facility, in response to increased TOD™ System sales and production demands.
Development efforts of major new systems, including this newly created Tissue Computer, are always subject to schedule revisions. However, the complete TOD™ development and manufacturing process is currently on schedule to support shipping a limited number of TOD™ Model 16 units by December 2022.
For additional information on Tissue Computing technology, current neuron processing activities, TOD™ design, the NDI device, and related subjects, visit the BCM Industries website or contact BCM.
