Published on
Updated
Reading 2 mins.
Yes you read correctly and this is not science fiction! Two researchers want to make a bionic nose, associated with a brain implant. Objective: to provide a solution to all people whose nose no longer fulfills part of its functions, in particular in the event of anosmia induced by a long form of Covid.
According to figures released by the World Health Organization, between 10% and 20% of people affected by a long Covid suffer from anosmia. That is, the loss of smell, a disorder that persists more frequently in women and the elderly than in men and younger people.
The trail of an electronic nose
Richard Costanzo, professor emeritus of physiology and biophysics, and Daniel Coelho, professor of otolaryngology at Virginia Commonwealth University and expert in cochlear implants, are working hand in hand to develop this artificial nose. Thanks to the associated brain implant, it would allow people who have lost their sense of smell to smell again.
Smell, a complex sense
But the task is far from simple. A human nose has 400 different types of olfactory sensors, which allow us to distinguish more than a trillion odors. The current work of scientists is to individualize the detection of odors by the sensors they are developing. There are only about ten at the moment.
The other objective is to find the best “path” to transmit information to the brain and more specifically in which brain region. The work is therefore huge.
A good hope to succeed
Despite this, the researchers are not discouraged and are still hopeful of achieving a result, as they indicate in the scientific journal spectrum. They intend to base themselves on the principle of the cochlear implant of the ear, by imitating its principle, but by diverting it for an olfactory use.
Richard Costanzo remains optimistic: “I think it will take us several more years before we get there.” did he declare. “But I think it’s doable.” Let’s hope he’s right, so that we can one day equip all anosmics with a bionic nose.