The Bionics Institute
The Bionics Institute is an independent, non-profit, research organisation working in the field of medical bionics. Medical bionics aims to replace and/or enhance impaired sensory or other functions using electronic devices that interface with the human body.
The Bionic Ear Institute was established in 1983 to continue innovative research on the bionic ear but our experience and discoveries have led to developments in other areas of medical bionics. The Institute changed its name in 2011 to The Bionics Institute and is now focussing on three key research areas:
Bionic Hearing
Research at the Bionics Institute is aimed at improving the performance of the cochlear implant and enabling its application to many more adults and children with hearing impairments. Specific projects include sound processing research to enhance the perception of music and speech, the development of techniques to improve the function of the hearing nerve, and investigation of how the brain responds to long-term artificial stimulation.
Bionic Vision
As part of the Bionic Vision Australia consortium, the Bionics Institute is developing a bionic implant capable of restoring limited vision to people suffering from eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa. The Institute is using its engineering expertise and its experience in safety and biocompatibilty studies to establish safe surgical procedures and effective electrical stimulation strategies.
Neurobionics
In the Bionics Institute's Neurobionics research program, implantable devices are being developed to detect, predict, and suppress abnormal neural activity in the brain. The main focus of this work is to alleviate disorders including epilepsy.
Using a multidisciplinary approach, along with proven experience of working from conception to commercialisation, the Bionics Institutes's research aims to deliver technologies to secure better health outcomes for people, reducing the burden of disease and disabilities.
The Bionics Institute's researchers come from a diverse range of disciplines including neurology, biology, audiology, physiology, engineering, clinical research, speech science, mathematics, and materials science.
The Bionics Institute works closely with many networks and collaborators.