Longer-Lasting Artificial Eyes

September 25, 2008 | Source: Technology Review

Researchers with the Boston Retinal Implant Project have developed a retinal implant that can stay in the eye for years without declining in performance or causing inflammation.

The device sits mostly outside the eye. A coil around the iris receives wireless power and image data from a microcontroller that can be carried on a belt, and transmits data to electronics inside a waterproof titanium case (below). The electronics controls an electrode array (not visible) connected to nerves in the back of the retina. (Shawn Kelly)

The device sits mostly outside the eye. A coil around the iris receives wireless power and image data from a microcontroller that can be carried on a belt, and transmits data to electronics inside a waterproof titanium case (below). The electronics controls an electrode array (not visible) connected to nerves in the back of the retina. (Shawn Kelly)

In its current form, the implant can reproduce only a 15-pixel image, but the group is working on a version with around 100 pixels and hopes to get up to 1,000 eventually.