First Bionic Arms- Now Bionic Eyes! Last week the FDA gave approval to the Argus II, a bionic eye that could potentially cure blindness in 15,000 people in the US. The Alpha IMS, a new implant in early testing, has cured blindness in eight people so far. Anthony gives us a sneak peak at this amazing new tech.
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“How does a “bionic eye” allow blind people to see?”
“In the past 20 years, biotechnology has become the fastest-growing area of scientific research, with new devices going into clinical trials at a breakneck pace. A bionic arm allows amputees to control movements of the prosthesis with their thoughts. A training system called BrainPort is letting people with visual and balance disorders bypass their damaged sensory organs and instead send information to their brain through the tongue. Now, a company called Second Sight has received FDA approval to begin U.S. trials of a retinal implant system that gives blind people a limited degree of vision.”
“FDA approves first bionic eye”
“It won’t restore sight completely, but allows sight-impaired individuals to detect light and dark. On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a device created by Second Sight Medical Products that can be used to treat a rare type of blindness called retinitis pigmentosa. Retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic eye condition in which cells of the retina, which are responsible for translating light rays into images in the brain, gradually deteriorate.”
Retinal implant restores vision for eight blind people
“While the Argus II relies on glasses, an externally-mounted video camera, and a separate processing box, the Alpha IMS system detects light coming into the eye via electrodes implanted underneath the patient’s retina, before feeding it into a microchip that sends the signals to the brain. The brain then processes the data as it would organic signals from a healthy eye, and the patient sees a black and white image. There’s also a dial fitted behind the ear for adjusting brightness, and the whole system is powered wirelessly by a pocket battery.”
