bionic eye
TRANSCRIPT
contents
introduction
history
human eye v/s bio electronic eye
Features
working principle
advantages
disadvantages
conclusion
future scope
Introduction
bio electronic eye is derived from the combination of two words biology and electronics
This device replaces functionality of a part or whole part of the eye
The researchers took inspiration from the device of cohlear implant(concerned to
hearing capability)
History
Dr. Mark Humayun, Dr. Eugene Dejuan along with few more scientists demonstrated
that a visually impaired person could be made to see light by stimulating the optic
nerves behind the retina with electrical impulses. This test proved that the nerves
behind retina still functioned even when the retina had degenerated.
The main target of the research was:
small enough to be implanted in the eye.
supplied with a continuous source of power.
bio-compatible with eye tissues and its surroundings
Human eye The mechanism behind that is Once light
reaches our eyes, signals are sent to our
brain, and our brain deciphers the
information in order to detect the
appearance, location and movement of
the objects we are sighting at.
The important part of an eye is that is
responsible for vision is retina.
There are main 3 types of light sensitive
cells in the retina.
.Rod cells
Cone cells
Ganglion cells
Causes of blindness
There are a number of retinal diseases that attack these cells, which can lead to blindness.
The most notable of these diseases are:
Retinitis Pigmentosa
It is the name given to a group of hereditary diseases of the retina of the eye.
macular degeneration
It a layer beneath the retina, called the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE), gradually wears
out from its lifelong duties of disposing of retinal waste products
Both of these diseases attack the retina causing either loss of peripheral vision or total
blindness. However, it’s been found that neither of these retinal diseases affects the ganglion
cells or the optic nerve.
Normal vision Defective vision
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Macular degeneration
Bio electronic eye
The scientists develop the artificial cones and artificial rods to transmit the information
to brain and implemented in bioelectronics eye.
Bio electronic eye consist of electronic systems which consist of image sensors,
processors, receivers, radio transmitters and retinal chips
Features
Artificial silicon retina
It is a silicon chip of 2mm in
diameter and 1/1000 inch in
thickness
It consists of micro photo diodes
The MARC system
The MARC system Circuit of MARC system
MARC means multiple unit artificial retinal chip.
External camera captures image and it will be sent into microprocessor .
It will be converted into encoded data stream.
The data stream will be modulated by ASK modulator .
The modulated wave sent to demodulator.
Electrodes are stimulated according with input encoded data.
The electric signals are passed through optical nerve to brain.
working of bio electronic eye
Role of BIOELECTRONIC EYE in tracking objects
- It provides information about the edges of images rather than a whole picture. Edge information is usually sufficient for detecting and tracking objects.
- The top image shows the raw output of the retina chip.
- The middle one is a picture processed from it.
- The third one shows how moving face would appear.
PrototypesWide-View device
It will use 100 electrodes
It will help to differentiate light and dark shapes
It is used for retinitis pigmentosa
High acuity device
It will use 1000 electrodes
It will use help to recognize the faces
It will suitable for macular degeneration
Diamond device
It will be implemented in soon
Advantages
Very Early in the visual pathway
No Batteries implanted within body
No complicated surgical procedure
Power Requirement – ¼ of milli watt
Limitations
Repairing is difficult if any of the devices got damaged.
Those who lost their visions due to other reasons could not use this device.
It may not work for people blinded as children or as infants, because the visual cortex
do not develop normally.
Surgery is required to implant the electrode array.
The approximated cost of the device is $70,000.
conclusion
Bionic devices are being developed to do more than replace defective parts
We may not restore the vision fully, but we can help them at least to find their way,
recognize faces, read books, distinguish between objects
Restoration of sight for the blind is no more a dream today. Bionic Eyes have made this
true.
We are sure that higher quality, better resolution, and even color are possible in the
future
Future scope