25-08-2014, 12:06 PM
ARTIFICIAL VISION- A BIONIC EYE
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ABSTRACT
For those millions of us whose vision isn't perfect, there are glasses. But for those hundreds of thousands who are blind, devices that merely assist the eyes just aren't enough. What they need are alternative routes by which the sights of the world can enter the brain and be interpreted.
Technology has created many path ways for the mankind. Now technology has improved to that extent where in the entire human body can be controlled using a single electronic chip. We have seen prosthetics that helped to overcome handicaps. Bio medical engineers play a vital role in shaping the course of these prosthetics. Now it is the turn of artificial vision through bionic eyes. Chips designed specially to imitate the characteristics of the damaged retina and the cones and rods of the organ of sight are implanted with a microsurgery.
Linking electronics and biotechnology, the scientists has made the commitment to the development of technology that will provide or restore vision for the visually impaired around the world.
This multidisciplinary nature of the ‘new technology’ has inspired me to present this paper. There is hope for the blind in the form of bionic eyes. This technology can add life to their vision less eyes.
INTRODUCTION
`Bionic eye,' also called a Bio Electronic eye, is the electronic device that replaces functionality of a part or whole of the eye. It is still at a very early stage in its development, but if successful, it could restore vision to people who have lost sight during their lifetime. A bionic eye work by stimulating nerves, which are activated by electrical impulses. In this case the patient has a small device implanted into the body that can receive radio signals and transmit those signals to nerves
. One of the most dramatic applications of bionics is the creation of artificial eyes. Early efforts used silicon-based photodetectors, but silicon is toxic to the human body and reacts unfavourably with fluids in the eye. Now, scientists at the Space Vacuum Epitaxy Centre (SVEC) based at the University of Houston, Texas, are using a new material they have developed, tiny ceramic photocells that could detect incoming light and so ‘repair’ malfunctioning human eyes.
In our paper we first introduce the causes for blindness, working of natural retina and bionic eye.
BIONIC EYE
Structure of the Microdetectors:
The ceramic microdetectors resemble the ultra-thin films found in modern computer chips. The arrays are stacked in a hexagonal structure, which mimics the arrangement of the rods and cones it has been designed to replace. ‘Our work differs from existing work in that we are using a newly developed oxide thin-film ceramic microdetector that does not require encapsulation or wire connections for integration into the human retina.’
To date, six volunteers have received implants of a micro-electronic device that rests on the surface of the retina to perform the function of normal photoreceptive cells. Artificial retina research began with Mark Humayun, then at Johns Hopkins University. The first human trial of Second Sight's artificial retina has been running since 2002, and it has enabled a formerly blind patient to distinguish between objects such as cups and plates, and even to make out large letters. But with only 16 electrodes, the device does not allow the patient to see a clear picture. For that, thousands of electrodes are needed on the same size of chip.
The bionic eye has changed the world of the visually challenged people .We are sure that h igher quality, better resolution, and even color are possible in the future.
CONCLUSION
To date, six volunteers have received implants of a micro-electronic device that rests on the surface of the retina to perform the function of normal photoreceptive cells. Artificial retina research began with Mark Humayun, then at Johns Hopkins University. The first human trial of Second Sight's artificial retina has been running since 2002, and it has enabled a formerly blind patient to distinguish between objects such as cups and plates, and even to make out large letters. But with only 16 electrodes, the device does not allow the patient to see a clear picture. For that, thousands of electrodes are needed on the same size of chip.
The bionic eye has changed the world of the visually challenged people .We are sure that h igher quality, better resolution, and even color are possible in the future.