MIT researchers tout progress with retinal implant - yes, it comes with a visor
By Donald Melanson 
posted September 24th 2009 1:57PM
posted September 24th 2009 1:57PM
As impressive as that tooth-eye implant was, we're guessing most folks had something more like this in mind when they considered the future of sight restoration. While it's still a bit early in development, and has yet to actually be implanted in anyone, this new retinal implant certainly seems to have the researchers at MIT excited, who say that tests with blind patients could begin within the next three years. The basic idea behind it was apparently inspired by the cochlear implants that have proven successful in restoring people's hearing, although in this case the implant works by electrically stimulating damaged nerve cells that would ordinarily send visual signals from the retina to the brain. According to the researchers, however, the system would only work on folks that have lost their sight due due retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration, and it wouldn't restore complete sight, but could let them see enough to find their way through a room or walk down a sidewalk (which is certainly no small feat). They'll also have to wear a special set of glasses (or visor, if you prefer), which will not only wirelessly send images to the implant, but keep it powered wirelessly through a set of coils.[Via The Register]
Is that an atom 1.6 chip I see on there or core i7 mobile? it better play 1080p. :)
Hmmmm I wonder if in my life time I'll be able to order a pair of HD glossy eye implants.........
....intel core eye 7. lol..
@uberfu: you get the prize for nerdiest thing I've heard all week.
"Laser rifle"
"Check"
"Thermal optic camouflage"
"Check"
"Night vision"
The soldier points to his eye and says, "Check"
so you wirelessly beam power INTO YOUR EYEBALL? Am I paranoid if I think there might be a cancer risk here? What a trade-off!
Yes you are. Most likely it uses some form of magnetic resonance, which is a different way of transmitting power wirelessly compared to induction. So far, effects on humans due to strong magnetic fields are not well known, but are generally agreed to not cause too much trouble. At any rate, we're talking a relatively small amount of power here; we're not powering a stadium.
Meh this type of enhancement will be uncessary once nanobots are viable and can restore functions.
The risk is more a heating issue actually, which I'm sure they have safeguards for and keep to an acceptable minimum. The energy associated with these is very very small in comparison to cell phones (which I think is what you are thinking about).
This would theoretically work on any retinal degeneration that leaves some part of the retina intact. RP and MD leave parts of the retina intact, but many other disease do as well. This one is unique in that they are stimulating the back of the retina (towards the brain, aka subretinal) as opposed to the front where the light enters (aka epiretinal). This is seemingly odd since the degenerating part of the retina for these diseases (the photoreceptors) is in the back, so you are targeting the bad part as opposed to the good part of the retina. Most other retinal prosthesis folks use the epiretinal approach. It has its advantages though, and is able to stimulate through the bad areas, or use what's left of the photoreceptors. Keep in mind the resolution of these is still very low, and hasn't improved much in the last decade. It will be a long time before it gives these blind folks the ability to see at all similar to how we do.
Right there is a comment that is useful. Engadget used to be famous for these. Now all we get are wiseasses.
I can't see the point, but I will be able to in the future!
Thanks, future!
can you say mad eye moody
Think you just mean mad eye. I don't anyone could be moody with one of them.
One can only think of the impact future-story/ sci-fi authors have made on our civilization.
This story reminded me of one thing: Geordi La Forge
Here's a photo of the MIT visor on a volunteer officer.
http://www.lightspeedfineart.com/photos/burton1a.jpg
Shouldn't that officer be keeping an eye/visor on the dilithium crystals?
As someone who has recently lost sight in my dominant eye within the past year due to ocular cancer, this can't come soon enough. Thanks science!
Man, I cannot wait to start poking my eyes off to get one of these. Apply the Terminator-mode from the new iPod and voilà!
i need to run a 4th level diagnostice on that to check on any tachyon pulses.....
Mr. LaForge, engage!
and inverse the polarity of the deflector dish!
This has some very interesting and even scary implications, same with the unbelievable prosthetic arm being developed. How long before the artificial becomes better than the flesh and bones?
There will be no robot uprising, we will be the robots
"There will be no robot uprising, we will be the robots"
Count me IN!!!
I, for one, welcome myself as the future robot overlord.
This is exactly the kind of news I'm looking for. My mom suffers with retinitis pigmentosa and it gets harder for her for each day that passes. Thank you science, and thank you Engadget for letting me know!
great! But, remember not to cross the "laserbeam" option when ordering. It can do quite a havoc!
If you lose your sight, you're in deep due due.
Hmm... HDMI input anyone? When they get the resolution up this should be pretty cool... imagine a FullHD screen... in your eye. Or you can connect a DSLR to it... or your computer...
I'm surprised nobody made a joke about scouters or power levels yet.
ITS OVER NINE THOU!
Steampunk...
I mean...look at all those brass tubes in it.
I do! I do prefer visor!
You have sinned against the internet!, I smite you!.
Retinal prosthesis is already going through trials. Implanted in patients...
http://www.2-sight.com/
in collaboration with USC, among other universities and research groups:
http://bmes-erc.usc.edu/research/retinal-prosthesis-testbed.htm
I was just about to write what meddevice wrote... Retinal prostheses are already out there. Would have been interesting to know what is novel about the stuff going on at MIT. (Higher electrode density? New methods of nerbe stimulation? ...)
Visual perception in a blind subject with a chronic microelectronic retinal prosthesis - Mark Humayun, 2003
I would TOTTALLY add a laser beam. PEW PEW! :3