Melbourne- Monash University research team claims to build the world’s first Bionic eye. The team hopes to bring back the vision of blind people with the help of a brain implant. Furthermore, Researchers say, ‘’ if successful, the Monash Vision Group (MVG) team will look to create a new commercial enterprise focused on providing vision to people with untreatable blindness and movement to the arms of people paralyzed by quadriplegia, transforming their healthcare.’’
How does it work?
The ground-breaking tech interfaces computer to the human brain. Gennari’s Bio vision system uses tiny wireless implants. These are attach to the brain, bypassing impair optic nerves that are not able to carry signals from the eyes.
According to Lowery, head of the university’s electrical and computer engineering department the processor will take information from a camera that sits on pair of glasses. It will send electric signals to the transmitter on the back of the head. Likewise, the transmitter converts the acquired data into a pattern of electrical pulses. It will create a visual pattern from a combination of up to 473 spots of light. That will help in the recognition of indoor and outdoor objects. He says, ‘’ what will be seen is very much reduce from what we normally sighted person sees.’’
Furthermore, the researchers are looking forward to advancing their system. And help people with untreatable neurological conditions such as limb paralysis.
What do researchers say about the technology?
Dr Matthew Griffith from the University of Australian Centre of Microscopy& Microanalysis and the School of Aerospace says the device is build from multi-color carbon-base semiconductors. They observe light to fire the neurons. Further, they transmit signals from the eye to the brain.
He said, ‘’ Worldwide, the number of people living with vision impairment is at least 2.2 billion. Our research aims to provide a biomedical solution to those experiencing blindness from retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the second being one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. ‘’
Moreover, the integration of this device into the human body is soft and flexible. According to Dr Griffith, it is designed considering the human body. It will help to restore sensory functions that are cause by injuries or other diseases. Additionally, the device can be print via the same method as newspaper printing. Dr Griffith has received NHMRC ideas grant to continue his work on the project with his colleagues.