The Artificial Silicon Retina (ASR) is a new retinal implant designed to help people with end stage retinitis pigmentosa improve their vision. The new retinal prosthesis, manufactured by Optobionics, is only 2mm. in diameter and only 25 microns (1/1000 inch) in thickness. After surgery, the ASR requires no externally worn devices. In addition, the implant does not require any wires or batteries. Instead, the ASR is powered solely by incident light. The ASR chip uses about 5,000 microscopic solar cells that work to convert light into electrical impulses. Since the ASR makes use of the natural optic nerve, brain surgery and wiring is not required to restore vision. On the other hand, the retinal prosthesis can only be used if the optic nerve is still fully functional.
The ASR implant is still in clinical trial phase, and it has seen variable success. Most of the patients who recieved the implant reported improvement in color vision, the ability to read letters, and an expansion of their visual field. Also, many patients experienced a positive affect on their walking abilities since they were not constantly bumping into unseen objects. The advantages of the ASR are that it requires no external visual device, no brain surgery, and no battery.
Random new study: Spinach protein may be able to serve as an artificial retina in a similar way to the ASR. The protein gives off a small electrical voltage after capturing incoming photons.
http://medgadget.com/archives/2005/02/optobionics_art.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/04/050429100652.htm
http://www.rachnaindia.com/fzone/fz/asr.htm
1 comment:
How efficient are the solar cells though? Cause this is usually a problem with most subretinal implants, and which is why they usually need external power sources.
Also, so if a spinach protein can be used, would it be inserted into the eye, would someone swallow it in pill form, eat it, etc?
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