SUBJECT: "John Doe"
AGE: 32
BLOOD: AB Positive

Report case #701 confirmed and is accurate. Subject is stable, and general surgery for body lacerations have been initiated.


OBSERVATIONS:

Subject is stable, and has shown no signs of increased heart rate or rejection from nanite injection for internal system repair. While sedated, and the subject's neural activity stabilized, we've been able to conduct extensive neurological scans, to determine if subject would be able to handle extensive neurological surgery, and implementation of any neurostimulation devices. Our fear is that with such devices, metal electrodes will be stiffer than surrounding brain tissue, and prone to the mechanical impacts encountered by the body, such as rejection. Thus, when implanted in tissue, they frequently produce inflammation and sheaths of glial tissue surrounding them, a situation which not only leads to tissue injury, but also reduces electrical effectiveness of the device.

CONCLUSIONS:

We want to repair and enhance the subject, not damage him further. The next step initially will be the vagus nerve, as it supply's the heart, lungs, upper digestive tract, and other organs of the chest and abdomen. As such, we will see if it will be possible to stimulate the vagus nerve artificially to modulate neural plasticity in the brain, without the need for invasive surgery, thus reducing risk of more trauma on the subject's body.

First step, conduct research on non-metal neurostimulation devices and neural transmitters.

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INITIAL RESEARCH ON NEURAL STIMULI

While working with the scientists in Lab 006, and looking at alternative means for non-metallic neurostimulation devices, we've come across a conducting polymer called Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene). Now, conductive polymers may be classified into two different categories: extrinsically conductive polymers and intrinsically conductive polymers. Focusing on intrinsically conductive polymers, these polymers consist of a network of alternating single and double carbon bonds. This alternation of bonds produces conjugated π-bonds that result in a conductive material. The molecule at hand, Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), was developed as an intrinsically conductive polymer. Combining the usual benefits of polymers with conductive qualities yields a product that is low in cost, lightweight, potentially moldable, and of course, highly conductive. Some disadvantages though are that they are not as mechanically strong as some metals and may be damaged by scratching and abrasion. While these specific disadvantages would present problems in external applications, the risk of scratching or abrasion when applied internally are less of a worry.


Having our scientists working on application of such a polymer, they have been quite successful. They have been able to create a prototype PEDOT electrode that relied on both conducting polymers and live neural cells in their design. The increased biocompatibility and electrical signal transduction properties of the conducting polymer electrodes addressed the issues of metal neurostimulation devices and as such new generation of implanted electrodes that would benefit our subject at hand.

OBSERVATIONS:

With the potential application of such PEDOT electrode clusters, or PEC, the next step will be creating neuroprosthetic junctions, or NPJ, to interface with the PECs and provide effective links between augmentations and nerves within the subject. Using a master NPJ embedded in the subject's brain tissue, we would be able to design an implant web, a networked combination operating from the master NPJ. Multiple distributed PEC's in all major organs could give constantly updated bio-data, linked to secondary units located at key nerve or bloodstream vectors - in the heart, perhaps, the adrenal and lymphatic nodes - and a level of autonomous response that could keep a person alive even without the intervention of the implantee.

CONCLUSIONS:

Develop master NPJ, look into Nanofiber seeding for the subject, and begin surgical process for installing PEC's and a NPJ.

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INITIAL RESEARCH ON NEURALPROSTHETIC JUNCTIONS

Having spoken with our staff in Lab 006, they have developed a experimental NPJ, currently being called the i-1 Biochip. Interfacing directly with the PEDOT electrode cluster embedded in the brain, the i-1 allows implanted cybernetic augmentations to communicate with the biological nervous system, as well as shows signs of encouraging the meshing of augmentation and nerve tissue. Completely new tissue that is fully compatible with a PEC formed at the junction.


At this point in time, with a working i-1 in hand, we have begin primary surgery on subject's brain tissue.


OBSERVATIONS:

Subject is under heavy anesthetics, and we have successfully installed the primary PEC in the subject's brain. We will wait till we near completion before installing the i-1 chip, to test and ensure all augmentations are connected and providing clear signals. While running further tests separately on the i-1 in a simulation as well as with various augmentations awaiting implantation, we're astonished at how remarkably well it allows for integration with a subject's neural capabilities. Seamless control, instant reaction time, and no system errors detected. With the advancements made in Lab 001 previously, this subject will be the first step in human augmentation, with military as well as civilian applications. An exciting time.

CONCLUSIONS:

Receive prototype units from Lab 001 and Lab 006, prepare anesthetics for full body surgery, and ensure further updates are provided for the i-1 biochip before integration.

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INITIAL RESEARCH ON i-1 BIOCHIP

Gathering more information from Lab 001 and 006, we've been able to provide a clearer understanding on how the i-1 Biochip functions. The i-1 is comprised of numerous physical processors integrated on one physical chip, but the key is in the threading: the hub is controlled by software which enables more efficient processing on the hardware. Each input from the nervous system generates its own or multiple threads, based on operations like motion or recollection. The i-1 that we have now is a combination of multi-core processors tied closer to the human brain's own superlative multi-tasking capacity. In effect, we allow the hub to work with the human brain for seamless control of all cybernetics augmentations without the processors bogged down. In analogy, instead of a relay-race where one participant is slower than the other over time, it becomes a ride on a tandem without pause until the subject's own body exhausts it's energy.

This of course ties into neuroplasiticity - meaning the flexibility of the brain to reorganize itself based on the result of experience. While the i-1 provides multi-core processors working in tandem with the brain, the brain itself will need to become acquainted with the augmentations. With the precise timing available from the i-1, we can clearly see that enhancement in learning can be applied for areas of the motor cortex, auditory cortex, somatosensory cortex, and hippocampus. Manipulation of neuroplasticity makes it clear that our brain has an unparalleled flexibility to incoporate neuroplasiticity augmentations.


Subject awoke from increased neural stress as the last of the PEC's as well as limb augmentation hubs were being implanted. Heavy doses of anesthetics were administered. With the last of the PEC's installed, the bulk of the surgical implantation's are complete.


OBSERVATIONS:

With the bulk of the PEC's and limb augmentation hub's surgically implanted, our next step is Dermal Modification as well as installing the various external augmentations. With regards Dermal Modification, essentially we will take the skin of the subject and alter it to resemble organic body armor.

The process is simple in logistical terms, although to the implantee it's lengthy and quite painful. As such, we will need to ensure the subject does not awake from the process as he did earlier. The process itself requires a mesh of thin layered material implanted directly below the epidermis; the 'armor' per se is covered in a g-loop coating that bonds directly to tissue without rejection, and once the skin is allowed to heal, it becomes a seamless part of the body. Under point of impact, the implantee's skin will still break and suffer bleeding/lesions, but the new armor layer beneath - a sandwich of carbon nanotubes floating in a shear-thickening gel - will absorb most of the impact. Preventing, as it were, all but the most terminal penetration trauma.

CONCLUSIONS:

Allow body to heal via nanites as well as normal bodily recovery time, and begin Dermal Modification as well as installation of external augmentations. Look into possible Optical Enhancements as well.

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INITIAL RESEARCH ON OPTICAL ENHANCEMENT FUNCTIONALITY

Vision enrichment enhancements implant the human eye with a series of suspended organic-plastic lenses using embedded circuitry, tied into a nanoscale neural spike that is attached to the optic nerve of the subject. Beyond the simple optical functionality of the basic module, with provision for an implanted miniature lens array for visual acuity at extended range, there are line enhancements that can become accessible to the subject after training and/or experiential operation - specifically, the development of autonomic environment parsing. This can include the most basic level of interface with a so-called “heads-up display” or in more advanced modes, a literal predictive understanding of electronic systems and related environmental cues. In addition, the basic enhanced man is automatically protected from a variety of hazardous visual impairment vectors - damage from flash effects, “retina burn” and other similar occurrences.


With the bulk of the surgical process done, we are now ready to install the i-1 Biochip, and activate the internal systems. The subject will be kept under sedation, as we gather the results from testing the internal augmentations. Once the results indicate that the subject's augmentations are operating at full capacity, we will begin installing the external augmentations.


OBSERVATIONS:

Internal augmentations operating at expected levels. Some minor fluctuations in both the Optical Enhancement prosthetic, as well as the lower abdominal PEC's, but after further testing, the levels remained steady and within acceptable parameters. Neural scans show an increase in neurological activity, as well as newly formed tissue already surrounding the PEC's. Extraordinary given the subject's state mere days ago. Instant dermal reaction from both natural and augmented nerve clusters throughout the subject's body, both organic and artificial pupil dilation when subjected to various light sources, and dermal modification functioning well when subjected to external pressure on various locations of the body.

CONCLUSIONS:

With the subject having fully accepted and integrated the internal augmentations, it is time for installation of external augmentations.

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INITIAL RESEARCH ON NEUROMUSCULAR FACILITATION SYSTEMS

A Neuromuscular facilitator module is essentially one of an enhanced system embedded into a human being to exceed normal reflex delay, to literally move at "the speed of thought." Developed within Lab 001, pressure signals are transmitted through bio-synthetic circuits from a web of augmentation elements to enhance dexterity, muscle control, balance and other related abilities. A core unit - a central governor, if you will - works in concert with the PEC's implanted at key nerve junctions in the implantee's vestibular structure; these in turn co-ordinate wirelessly with a strata of bio-plastic discs located along the lines of the spine. As the neuromuscular facilitator module 'beds in' to the implantee's neural pattern and becomes a functioning part of the user's body, experience will allow them to increase electrical neuron stimuli beyond initial states, and thus raise the levels of corporeal control, sensory function, and agility to even greater heights.

When applied to the cybernetic limb augmentations we are preparing to install into the subject, the use of a NFM in conjunction with the artificial limbs exceed normal human functions dramatically. Looking into cyber-limbs, they are composed of muscles made from electroactive polymer bunches arranged around artificial bones that are, in turn, formed from dense superplastics or lightweight metal alloy foams. Fluid shock-absorbing joint mechanisms complete the mimicry of human form, and to give the limbs a more "realistic" sense, they are typically coated with a nano-scale artificial epidermis that resembles flesh. Inside the limbs, microcomputer units interface directly with the PEC's implanted in the organic parts of the augmentee's body, translating nerve impulses from the i-1 Biochip as well as the subject's brain directly into action and motion.


While the subject is kept under, installation of the prostheses has begun. Connecting the limbs to the augmentation hubs, we have begun slowly booting up his augmented systems via the i-1 Biochip. Further testing will proceed for reflexes as well as any fluctuations in connectivity.


OBSERVATIONS:

Subject appears stable and has accepted the foreign limbs with zero issues. Subject is still being kept under, but testing as shown no rejection of the augmentations, and reflexes appear normal. We will keep the subject under for another day or two while we run more tests, but we are optimistic that he will be in rehabilitation within days. We have received reports too from Lab 001 and Lab 006 of combat prosthesis development, which will be sent over to us once initial testing has been completed. During this stage, the subject will be put under again, and will receive the upgraded cybernetics.

CONCLUSIONS:

Final test already underway indicate that we will be nearing completion very soon.

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