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Implants that stimulate paralysed limbs or which provide artificial sight or
hearing need good electrical connections between the electrode and nerves. Now
Yissum Research of Jerusalem has found an efficient way to bond transistors to
voltage-sensitive cells, such as nerve cells (WO 00/51191). Microstrips of a
synthetic peptide called polylysine are used to stick transistors to the surface
of nerve cells. To avoid damaging the nerve cells by injecting an electric
current, the device is instead designed to work by inducing a voltage across the
cells.