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ARTIFICIAL VISION- A BIONIC EYE
SHEDS NEW LIGHT.


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CONTENTS:
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Causes for blindness
4. How retina works?
5. Bionic ee
!. Ad"antages of bionic ee o"erco#ing silicon ee
$. %&'ectations of future
(. Conclusion
ABSTRACT
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)or t*ose #illions of us w*ose "ision isn+t 'erfect, t*ere are glasses. But for
t*ose *undreds of t*ousands w*o are blind, de"ices t*at #erel assist t*e ees -ust aren+t
enoug*. .*at t*e need are alternati"e routes b w*ic* t*e sig*ts of t*e world can enter
t*e brain and be inter'reted.
/ec*nolog *as created #an 'at* was for t*e #ankind. 0ow tec*nolog
*as i#'ro"ed to t*at e&tent w*ere in t*e entire *u#an bod can be controlled using a
single electronic c*i'. .e *a"e seen 'rost*etics t*at *el'ed to o"erco#e *andica's. Bio
#edical engineers 'la a "ital role in s*a'ing t*e course of t*ese 'rost*etics. 0ow it is
t*e turn of artificial "ision t*roug* bionic ees. C*i's designed s'eciall to i#itate t*e
c*aracteristics of t*e da#aged retina and t*e cones and rods of t*e organ of sig*t are
i#'lanted wit* a #icrosurger.
1inking electronics and biotechnology, t*e scientists *as #ade t*e
co##it#ent to t*e de"elo'#ent of tec*nolog t*at will 'ro"ide or restore "ision for t*e
"isuall i#'aired around t*e world.
/*is #ultidisci'linar nature of t*e 2new tec*nolog3 *as ins'ired #e to
'resent t*is 'a'er. /*ere is *o'e for t*e blind in t*e for# of bionic ees. /*is tec*nolog
can add life to t*eir "ision less ees.
INTRODCTION
4Bionic eye,+ also called a Bio Electronic eye, is t*e electronic de"ice t*at
re'laces functionalit of a 'art or w*ole of t*e ee. It is still at a "er earl stage in its
de"elo'#ent, but if successful, it could restore "ision to 'eo'le w*o *a"e lost sig*t
during t*eir lifeti#e. A bionic ee work b sti#ulating ner"es, w*ic* are acti"ated b
electrical i#'ulses. In t*is case t*e 'atient *as a s#all de"ice i#'lanted into t*e bod t*at
can recei"e radio signals and trans#it t*ose signals to ner"es
. 5ne of t*e #ost dra#atic a''lications of bionics is t*e
creation of artificial ees. %arl efforts used silicon6based '*otodetectors, but silicon is
to&ic to t*e *u#an bod and reacts unfa"ourabl wit* fluids in t*e ee. 0ow, scientists at
t*e 7'ace 8acuu# %'ita& Centre 978%C: based at t*e Uni"ersit of Houston, /e&as, are
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using a new #aterial t*e *a"e de"elo'ed, tin cera#ic '*otocells t*at could detect
inco#ing lig*t and so 2re'air3 #alfunctioning *u#an ees.
In our 'a'er we first introduce t*e causes for blindness, working of
natural retina and bionic ee.
CASES OF BLINDNESS:
/*ere are a nu#ber of retinal diseases t*at attack t*ese cells, w*ic* can lead to blindness.
/*e #ost notable of t*ese diseases are
1. ;etinitis 'ig#entosa
2. Age6related #acular degeneration.
Bot* of t*ese diseases attack t*e retina, rendering t*e rods and cones ino'erati"e, causing
eit*er loss of 'eri'*eral "ision or total blindness. Howe"er, it+s been found t*at neit*er of
t*ese retinal diseases affect t*e ganglion cells or t*e o'tic ner"e. /*is #eans t*at if
scientists can de"elo' artificial cones and rods, infor#ation could still be sent to t*e brain
for inter'retation.
!O" RETINA "OR#S$
/*e ee is one of t*e #ost a#a<ing organs in t*e bod. /o understand *ow artificial
"ision is created, it+s i#'ortant to know about t*e i#'ortant role t*at t*e retina 'las in
*ow ou see Here is a si#'le e&'lanation of w*at *a''ens w*en ou look at an ob-ect=
7cattered lig*t fro# t*e ob-ect enters t*roug* t*e cornea.
/*e lig*t is 'ro-ected onto t*e retina.
/*e retina sends #essages to t*e brain t*roug* t*e o'tic ner"e.
/*e brain inter'rets w*at t*e ob-ect is.
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Fig%res &'()*: the
+n+to,y o- the eye +n. its /+th 0ie1
/*e retina is co#'le& in itself.
/*is t*in #e#brane at t*e back of t*e ee is a
"ital 'art of our abilit to see. Its #ain
function is to recei"e and trans#it i#ages to t*e
brain. /*ese are t*e t*ree #ain t'es of cells in t*e ee t*at *el' 'erfor# t*is function=
;ods
Cones
>anglion Cells
/*ere are about 125 #illion rods and cones wit*in t*e retina t*at act as t*e ee+s
'*otorece'tors. ;ods are t*e #ost nu#erous of t*e two '*otorece'tors, outnu#bering
cones 1( to 1. ;ods are able to function in low lig*t 9t*e can detect a single '*oton: and
can create black and w*ite i#ages wit*out #uc* lig*t. 5nce enoug* lig*t is a"ailable 9for
e&a#'le, dalig*t or artificial lig*t in a roo#:, cones gi"e us t*e abilit to see color and
detail of ob-ects. Cones are res'onsible for allowing ou to read t*is article, because t*e
allow us to see at a *ig* resolution .
/*e infor#ation recei"ed b t*e rods and cones are t*en trans#itted to t*e
nearl 1 #illion ganglion cells in t*e retina. /*ese ganglion cells inter'ret t*e #essages
fro# t*e rods and cones and send t*e infor#ation on to t*e brain b wa of t*e o'tic
ner"e.
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BIONIC EYE
Str%ct%re o- the 2icro.etectors:
/*e cera#ic #icrodetectors rese#ble t*e ultra6t*in fil#s found in
#odern co#'uter c*i's. /*e arras are stacked in a *e&agonal structure, w*ic* #i#ics
t*e arrange#ent of t*e rods and cones it *as been designed to re'lace. 25ur work differs
fro# e&isting work in t*at we are using a newl de"elo'ed o&ide t*in6fil# cera#ic
#icrodetector t*at does not re?uire enca'sulation or wire connections for integration into
t*e *u#an retina.3
The /rototy/e i,/l+nt:
/*e first i#'lant *ad -ust 1! electrodes on t*e retinal 'ad and, as a result,
"isual infor#ation was li#ited. /*e new de"ice *as !@ electrodes and t*e recei"er is
s*runk to one6?uarter of t*e original+s si<e. It is now s#all enoug* to be inserted into t*e
ee socket itself. /*e o'eration to fit t*e i#'lant will also last -ust 1.5 *ours, down fro#
$.5 *ours.
I,/l+nt to be %se. in -%t%re:
Artificial retinas constructed at 78%C 97'ace 8acuu# %'ita& Centre:
consist of 1@@,@@@ tin cera#ic detectors, eac* 1A2@ t*e si<e of a *u#an *air. /*e
asse#blage is so s#all t*at surgeons can+t safel *andle it. 7o, t*e arras are attac*ed to a
'ol#er fil# one #illi#eter b one #illi#eter in si<e. A cou'le of weeks after insertion
into an eeball, t*e 'ol#er fil# will si#'l dissol"e
lea"ing onl t*e arra be*ind
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Fig 34 )irst generation cera#ic t*in fil# #icrodetectors !o1 it is i,/l+nte.:
BAn incision is #ade in t*e w*ite 'ortion of t*e ee and t*e retina is ele"ated
b in-ecting fluid underneat*,B e&'lains >arcia, co#'aring t*e s'ace to a blister for#ing
on t*e skin after a burn. B.it*in t*at little blister, we 'lace t*e artificial retina.B
A sc*e#atic diagra# of t*e retina 9below fig:66 a lig*t6sensiti"e laer t*at co"ers !5C of
t*e interior surface of t*e ee. scientists *o'e to re'lace da#aged rods and cones in t*e
retina wit* cera#ic #icrodetector arras
Fig 54 A sc*e#atic diagra# of t*e retina
!o1 .oes + 6bionic eye6 +llo1 blin. /eo/le to see$
-ig 74 5"er"iew of bionic ee
/*e Arg%s II i,/l+nt consists of an
arra of electrodes t*at are attac*ed to
t*e retina and used in con-unction wit*
an e&ternal ca#era and "ideo 'rocessing
sste# to 'ro"ide a rudi#entar for# of
sig*t to i#'lanted sub-ects/*e Arg%s II
Retin+l 8rosthesis Syste, can 'ro"ide
sig*t 66 t*e detection of lig*t 66 to 'eo'le
w*o *a"e gone blind fro#
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degenerati"e ee diseases like #acular degeneration and retinitis 'ig#entosa. /en 'ercent
of 'eo'le o"er t*e age of 55 suffer fro# "arious stages of #acular degenerationD and
retinitis 'ig#entosa is an in*erited disease t*at affects about 1.5 #illion 'eo'le around
t*e globe. Bot* diseases da#age t*e ees+ /hotorece/tors, t*e cells at t*e back of t*e
retina t*at 'ercei"e lig*t 'atterns and 'ass t*e# on to t*e brain in t*e for# of ner"e
i#'ulses, w*ere t*e i#'ulse 'atterns are t*en inter'reted as i#ages. /*e Argus II sste#
takes t*e 'lace of t*ese '*otorece'tors.
/*e second incarnation of 7econd 7ig*t+s retinal 'rost*esis consists of fi"e #ain 'arts=
Digit+l c+,er+ 6 built into a 'air of glassesD ca'tures i#ages in real6ti#eD
sends i#ages to #icroc*i'
Vi.eo-/rocessing ,icrochi/ 6 built into a *and*eld unitD 'rocesses i#ages
into electrical 'ulses re'resenting 'atterns of lig*t and darkD sends 'ulses to
radio trans#itter in glasses
R+.io tr+ns,itter 6 wirelessl trans#its 'ulses to recei"er i#'lanted abo"e
t*e ear or under t*e ee
R+.io recei0er 6 recei"er sends 'ulses to t*e retinal i#'lant b a *air6t*in,
i#'lanted wire
Retin+l i,/l+nt 6 arra of !@ electrodes on a c*i' #easuring 1 ## b 1 ##
/*e entire sste# runs on a batter 'ack t*at is *oused wit* t*e "ideo 'rocessing unit.
.*en t*e ca#era ca'tures an i#age 66 of, sa, a tree 66 t*e i#age is in t*e for# of lig*t
and dark 'i&els. It sends t*is i#age to t*e "ideo 'rocessor, w*ic* con"erts t*e tree6
s*a'ed 'attern of 'i&els into a series of electrical 'ulses t*at re'resent Blig*tB and Bdark.B
/*e 'rocessor sends t*ese 'ulses to a radio trans#itter on t*e glasses, w*ic* t*en
trans#its t*e 'ulses in radio for# to a recei"er i#'lanted underneat* t*e sub-ect+s skin.
/*e recei"er is directl connected "ia a wire to t*e electrode arra i#'lanted at t*e back
of t*e ee, and it sends t*e 'ulses down t*e wire.
.*en t*e 'ulses reac* t*e retinal i#'lant, t*e e&cite t*e electrode arra. /*e
arra acts as t*e artificial e?ui"alent of t*e retina+s '*otorece'tors. /*e electrodes are
sti#ulated in accordance wit* t*e encoded 'attern of lig*t and dark t*at re'resents t*e
tree, as t*e retina+s '*otorece'tors would be if t*e were working 9e&ce't t*at t*e 'attern
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wouldn+t be digitall encoded:. /*e electrical signals generated b t*e sti#ulated
electrodes t*en tra"el as neural signals to t*e "isual center of t*e brain b wa of t*e
nor#al 'at*was used b *ealt* ees 66 t*e o'tic ner"es. In #acular degeneration and
retinitis 'ig#entosa, t*e o'tical neural 'at*was aren+t da#aged. /*e brain, in turn,
inter'rets t*ese signals as a tree, and tells t*e sub-ect, BEou+re seeing a tree.B
All of t*is takes so#e training for sub-ects to actuall see a tree. At first, t*e see #ostl
lig*t and dark s'ots. But after a w*ile, t*e learn to inter'ret w*at t*e brain is s*owing
t*e#, and e"entuall 'ercei"e t*at 'attern of lig*t and dark as a tree.
/*us bionic ee *el's a blind 'eo'le to see t*e ob-ects and recogni<e t*e#.
!O" ADVANTA9ES OF BIONIC EYE OVERCO2E SILICON EYE
But silicon is to&ic to t*e *u#an bod and reacts unfa"orabl wit* fluids in t*e
ee 66 'roble#s t*at 78%C+s97'ace 8acuu# %'ita& Centre: cera#ic detectors do
not s*are.
/*e natural laout of t*e detectors sol"es anot*er 'roble# t*at 'lagued earlier
silicon researc*= blockage of nutrient flow to t*e ee.
All t*e nutrients flow fro# back to front in case of silicon
i#'lant9large,i#'ressi"e structure:w*ere as in t*e cera#ic detectors are
indi"idual, fi"e6#icron6si <e units 9t*e e&act si<e of cones: t*at allow nutrients to
flow around t*e#.
/*e cera#ic detectors does not deteriorate and Fneit*er doesG t*e ee.
E:8ECTATIONS OF FTRE
;esearc*ers are alread 'lanning a t*ird "ersion t*at *as 1,@@@ electrodes on t*e retinal
i#'lant, w*ic* t*e belie"e could allow for facial6recognition ca'abilities and *o'e to
allow t*e user to see i#ages.
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7cientists belie"es t*e i##ediate goal after ac*ie"ing abo"e is to de"elo' a functioning
artificial retina wit* resolution t*at #i#ics *u#an sensors. 25nce t*is ste' *as been
ac*ie"ed,3 t*e sas, 2t*en attention can be broug*t to bear on colour "ision, followed b
t*e re'lace#ent of so#e of t*e interconnecting neural cells t*at lead to t*e o'tic ner"e.3
7o, let us *o'e to reac* all t*ese goals as soon as 'ossible.
"e h+0e to -in. 1+ys -or the -ollo1ing:
If t*e o'tic ner"e or "ision 'rocessing centres in t*e brain are da#aged it cannot
*el', but t*ere are #an conditions in w*ic* 'atients lose t*e function of t*e rece'tor
cells in t*e retina and go blind, e"en t*oug* t*e neural circuitr be*ind is intact.
CONCLSION
/o date, si& "olunteers *a"e recei"ed i#'lants of a #icro6electronic de"ice
t*at rests on t*e surface of t*e retina to 'erfor# t*e function of nor#al '*otorece'ti"e
cells. Artificial retina researc* began wit* Hark Hu#aun, t*en at Io*ns Ho'kins
Uni"ersit. /*e first *u#an trial of 7econd 7ig*t+s artificial retina *as been running since
2@@2, and it *as enabled a for#erl blind 'atient to distinguis* between ob-ects suc* as
cu's and 'lates, and e"en to #ake out large letters. But wit* onl 1! electrodes, t*e de"ice
does not allow t*e 'atient to see a clear 'icture. )or t*at, t*ousands of electrodes are
needed on t*e sa#e si<e of c*i'.
/*e bionic ee *as c*anged t*e world of t*e "isuall c*allenged 'eo'le ..e are sure
t*at * ig*er ?ualit, better resolution, and e"en color are 'ossible in t*e future.
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