Researchers set to test bionic eye implant

Researchers at the University of Southern California's Doheny Eye Institute have snagged the all-important FDA approval need to begin clinical trials of their bionic eye implant, joining a growing number of other groups following in Lee Majors footsteps. Once underway, between 50 and 75 patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration will be outfitted with the implant, which has already seen some degree of success in limited testing. As the image above shows, in its current form at least, the device isn't completely implantable, also consisting of a small camera mounted on a pair of glasses that's wired to a handheld device. It works by processing images from the camera and wirelessly transmitting them to a receiver implanted in the eye, which in turn sends signals to a series of electrodes that stimulate the retina, sending the information to the brain, all of which happens in real time. While it won't restore full sight, the researchers say patients should be able to detect light and distinguish objects from one another. If all goes as planned, they also foresee the device being commercially available shortly after the trials are complete, although it obviously won't come cheap, with an expected price tag of $30,000. Let's just hope a mirror shades version isn't too far behind.

[Via BBC News]

[McPhearsom @ Feb 16th 2007 10:02PM]

Pretty impressive stuff.

Now I can finally install that Vision Augmention canister... all I need is a medbot.

[Chris @ Feb 16th 2007 11:32PM]

Awareness +2
Immunity: Critical Hits

[SporkRocker @ Feb 16th 2007 11:52PM]

Coolio, we are getting man made vision down. We are that step closer of becoming cyborgs and less human!

Who needs fears life when you can get an artficial limb that will work like your real arm or better! (Projected vision around a 50-100 years) :D

It's neat seeing how people are figuring out the human body and merging technology with it, too make people who lost some parts of their body to have their limbs back. ( Kinda)

[SporkRocker @ Feb 16th 2007 11:54PM]

I also wonder what would happen say if something like an electric magnetic pulse ever happened around with one of these patients with these bionical eyes. See static with one eye or nothing. Hrmmm. :D

[FIR3BRDRACR @ Feb 17th 2007 4:29AM]

now see, i lost my vision in my right eye due to an accident 2 years ago.
this actually is exciting for me...ahh technology, tis good
tis good

too bad i gotta wait about 2 more years until the 3rd gen (my doc told me to wait, but the proposed 3rd gen is implantable, pretty awesome stuff)

[Yubal @ Feb 18th 2007 3:05AM]

nice, really nice... the Ghost In The Shell universe shall be upon us! soon!

[Osman @ Feb 18th 2007 10:41AM]

Theroetically you could take these glasses off and use them to look around corners...

[fastm3driver @ Feb 26th 2007 1:59AM]

no Jordy picture? For shame.