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