23-01-2013, 11:38 AM
BIONIC EYE POWERED BY NANOGENERATOR
[attachment=48124]
Abstract
Bionic eye is an artificial electronic eye. The main
purpose of bionic eye is to provide vision, partially to the
visually challenged people by the use of modern day electronic
devices like charge coupled device (CCD) camera and bionic
eye implant. The implant is a small chip that is surgically
implanted behind the retina in the eye ball. It could restore the
eye sight of the people who suffer from age related blindness.
There are two basic methodologies of bionic eye, multiple unit
artificial retina chip system (MARC) and artificial silicon
retina system (ASR). However, this paper presents a novel idea
of integrating a new approach of bionic eye with the
nanogenerator. The nanogenerator is multifaceted when
compared to the external batteries providing better power,
compactness and higher efficiency. The potential advantage of
proposed method is to be able to remove the blindness to a
feasible extent by making advance in the present research and
improving manufacturing technology.
INTRODUCTION
Bionic eye is a bio-electronic eye. Bionic eye replaces the
functionality of a part or whole of the eye. An external
camera is worn on a pair of dark glasses which sends the
images in digital form to the radio receiver placed in the eye.
The radio receiver is attached to the implant chip on the
retina. The implantation is of two types, epiretinal implant
and subretinal implant, based on whether the implant is
placed on or behind the retina. In our proposed method of
bionic eye, a small and a powerful camera powered by
nanogenerator, is implanted inside the patient’s eye rather
than worn on a pair of glasses. The camera is small and
consumes very low power.
The Human eye : Structure and function
The Human eyes operate on the same principle as that of
a camera. The Human eye is an organ that reacts to light for
several purposes. The Human eye ball is roughly spherical in
shape. The important part of the eye responsible for the
vision is the retina. The retina is a light sensitive tissue lining
the inner surface of the eye. Light falling on the eye is
focused on to a sheet of light sensitive cells. The
photosensitive ganglion cells in the retina that receive the
light signals affect the adjustment of the size of the pupil.
Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration is a medical condition which
usually affects older adults. Macular Degeneration is mainly
due to the breakdown of the cones in the retina. The cone
cells are responsible for distinguishing the colours of the
image formed on the retina. In macular degeneration, a layer
beneath the retina, called the retinal pigment epithelium
(RPE), gradually wears out from its lifelong duties of
disposing of retinal waste products. A large proportion of
macular degeneration cases are age- related and it can make
it difficult to read or recognize faces, although enough
peripheral vision remains to allow other activities of daily
life. Age related Macular Degeneration (AMD) usually
affects people over the age of 50 and there are two distinct
types - wet AMD and dry AMD. Wet AMD results from the
growth of new blood vessels in the choroids, causing an
accumulation of fluid in the macula which leads to retinal
damage. Dry AMD represents at least 80% of all AMD cases
and results in atrophy of the Retina. Usually yellowish-white
round spots called drusen first appear in a scattered pattern
deep in the macula [1].
BIONIC EYE
A visual prosthesis or bionic eye is a form of neural
prosthesis intended to partially restore lost vision or amplify
existing vision. It usually takes the form of an externallyworn
camera that is attached to a stimulator on the retina,
optic nerve, or in the visual cortex, in order to produce
perceptions in the visual cortex. Fig. 2 shows the schematic
diagram of the bionic eye system.
Nanogenerator powersupply
Nanogenerators are devices that are made up of Zinc
oxide nanowires which when bent and released produce
electric charges [3]. By building interconnected arrays
containing millions of such nano wires, we can produce
enough power supply for small scale devices [4]. Fig. 9
shows the internal structure of the nanogenerator, which
consists of the PZT nanofibers placed on the silicon substrate.
CONCLUSION
Bionic devices are being studied and worked upon to do
more than replacement of the defective parts. Bionic Eye is a
system that is still under research. Providing power to run the
bionic eye implants has been a major challenge for the
researchers. With the upcoming development in the field of
nanotechnology, Nanogenerators are the future of power
supply for small scale devices. The major advantages of the
proposed bionic eye system are listed below:
• The Patient does not have to carry external batteries
along and the lifetime of the power supply is more.
• The system becomes more compact and efficient.
• There will be no external wiring to the human body.
[attachment=48124]
Abstract
Bionic eye is an artificial electronic eye. The main
purpose of bionic eye is to provide vision, partially to the
visually challenged people by the use of modern day electronic
devices like charge coupled device (CCD) camera and bionic
eye implant. The implant is a small chip that is surgically
implanted behind the retina in the eye ball. It could restore the
eye sight of the people who suffer from age related blindness.
There are two basic methodologies of bionic eye, multiple unit
artificial retina chip system (MARC) and artificial silicon
retina system (ASR). However, this paper presents a novel idea
of integrating a new approach of bionic eye with the
nanogenerator. The nanogenerator is multifaceted when
compared to the external batteries providing better power,
compactness and higher efficiency. The potential advantage of
proposed method is to be able to remove the blindness to a
feasible extent by making advance in the present research and
improving manufacturing technology.
INTRODUCTION
Bionic eye is a bio-electronic eye. Bionic eye replaces the
functionality of a part or whole of the eye. An external
camera is worn on a pair of dark glasses which sends the
images in digital form to the radio receiver placed in the eye.
The radio receiver is attached to the implant chip on the
retina. The implantation is of two types, epiretinal implant
and subretinal implant, based on whether the implant is
placed on or behind the retina. In our proposed method of
bionic eye, a small and a powerful camera powered by
nanogenerator, is implanted inside the patient’s eye rather
than worn on a pair of glasses. The camera is small and
consumes very low power.
The Human eye : Structure and function
The Human eyes operate on the same principle as that of
a camera. The Human eye is an organ that reacts to light for
several purposes. The Human eye ball is roughly spherical in
shape. The important part of the eye responsible for the
vision is the retina. The retina is a light sensitive tissue lining
the inner surface of the eye. Light falling on the eye is
focused on to a sheet of light sensitive cells. The
photosensitive ganglion cells in the retina that receive the
light signals affect the adjustment of the size of the pupil.
Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration is a medical condition which
usually affects older adults. Macular Degeneration is mainly
due to the breakdown of the cones in the retina. The cone
cells are responsible for distinguishing the colours of the
image formed on the retina. In macular degeneration, a layer
beneath the retina, called the retinal pigment epithelium
(RPE), gradually wears out from its lifelong duties of
disposing of retinal waste products. A large proportion of
macular degeneration cases are age- related and it can make
it difficult to read or recognize faces, although enough
peripheral vision remains to allow other activities of daily
life. Age related Macular Degeneration (AMD) usually
affects people over the age of 50 and there are two distinct
types - wet AMD and dry AMD. Wet AMD results from the
growth of new blood vessels in the choroids, causing an
accumulation of fluid in the macula which leads to retinal
damage. Dry AMD represents at least 80% of all AMD cases
and results in atrophy of the Retina. Usually yellowish-white
round spots called drusen first appear in a scattered pattern
deep in the macula [1].
BIONIC EYE
A visual prosthesis or bionic eye is a form of neural
prosthesis intended to partially restore lost vision or amplify
existing vision. It usually takes the form of an externallyworn
camera that is attached to a stimulator on the retina,
optic nerve, or in the visual cortex, in order to produce
perceptions in the visual cortex. Fig. 2 shows the schematic
diagram of the bionic eye system.
Nanogenerator powersupply
Nanogenerators are devices that are made up of Zinc
oxide nanowires which when bent and released produce
electric charges [3]. By building interconnected arrays
containing millions of such nano wires, we can produce
enough power supply for small scale devices [4]. Fig. 9
shows the internal structure of the nanogenerator, which
consists of the PZT nanofibers placed on the silicon substrate.
CONCLUSION
Bionic devices are being studied and worked upon to do
more than replacement of the defective parts. Bionic Eye is a
system that is still under research. Providing power to run the
bionic eye implants has been a major challenge for the
researchers. With the upcoming development in the field of
nanotechnology, Nanogenerators are the future of power
supply for small scale devices. The major advantages of the
proposed bionic eye system are listed below:
• The Patient does not have to carry external batteries
along and the lifetime of the power supply is more.
• The system becomes more compact and efficient.
• There will be no external wiring to the human body.