Artificial Retina Imaging
for the Sight Impaired
By: Danny Alvarez
4/29/15
Artificial retina imaging has made great improvements in the last decade, and is poised to make an
even larger advancement in the near future. In the future those with retina damage caused by retinitis
pigmentation could once again see in 20/20.
Outline
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Anatomy of the Eye
Argus
Bio-Retina
Other Solutions
Future Solutions
Summary
References
Key Concepts
Questions
Anatomy of the Eye
● Cornea
o
Image enters
● Retina
o
Image is converted
● Optic Nerve
o
Image is transmitted
● Brain
o
Image is perceived
Anatomy of the Eye
● Causes of Blindness
o
o
retinitis pigmentosa
macular
degeneration
Argus
● Mark Humayun
o
Artificial Retina
Project
● Second Sight
o
Developer
Argus
● Argus I
o Developed in 2002
o 16 electrode array
o 1 inch package
● Argus II
o Developed in 2006
o FDA Approved 2013
o 60 electrode array
Argus
Bio-Retina
● Nano-Retina
o
o
Company founded in
2009
Much cheaper
● Has wireless
charger
o
Poly-Si TFTs
Bio-Retina
● Glasses produce IR
beam
● 576 electrode array
● 3x4 mm circuit
● Single photovoltaic
cell
Benefits
Argus
● FDA Approved
● Easier to update
Bio-Retina
● Full Line of Sight
● Low Energy
● Cheaper
● Clearer Sight
Other Solutions
● Stem Cells
● Drug Therapy
● Gene Therapy
Future Solutions
● EYE
o
o
o
o
HMOX
15/10 vision
Hope to begin
process in 2027
3 models
 EYE Heal
 EYE Enhance
 EYE Advance
Summary
● Can only assist
with certain types
of blindness
● Current vision is
very crude
● Expected advances
in the near future
● Only Argus FDA
approved
● Very expensive
References
Matsumora, A. "Artificial Retina Using Poly-Si TFTs Driven by Wireless Power Supply." IEEE Xplore. IEEE, 11 May 2012. Web. 26 Apr.
2015.
<http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fxpl%2Flogin.jsp%3Ftp%3D%26arnumber%3D6218615%26tag%3D1%26url%3Dhttp%253A
%252F%252Fieeexplore.ieee.org%252Fstamp%252Fstamp.jsp%253Ftp%253D%2526arnumber%253D6218615%2526tag%253D1>.
Anthony, Sebastian. "The laser-powered bionic eye that gives 576-pixel grayscale vision to the blind."ExtremeTech.com. Ziff Davis, LLC, 12
July 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/132918-the-laser-powered-bionic- eye-that-gives-576-pixelgrayscale-vision-to-the-blind>.
Cameron, Adam. "Biotech Startup Wants to Bioprint Superhuman Eyeballs." Tech Gen Mag. N.p., 22 Apr. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.
<http://techgenmag.com/2015/04/22/bioprinting-superhuman-eyeballs/>.
How the Artificial Retina Works." Artificial Retina Project. N.p., 8 Jan. 2008. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.
<http://artificialretina.energy.gov/howartificialretinaworks.shtml>.
"How Your Eyes Work." How Your Eyes Work. American Optometric Association, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. <http://www.aoa.org/patientsand-public/resources-for- teachers/how-your-eyes-work>.
"Mission." Second Sight. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. <http://2-sight.eu/en/home-en>.
References
Puiu, Tibi. "Argus 2 bionic eye implant to receive firmware update." ZME Science. N.p., 8 Aug. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.zmescience.com/medicine/bionic-
eye-argus-2-update-04232/#!FOWAR>.
Thukral, Hitesh. "Bio-Retina to Enter Clinical Trials in 2013." Techno World. N.p., July 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.
<http://techwrldinfo.blogspot.com/2012_07_01_archive.html>.
"What is Retinitis Pigmentosa." Foundation Fighting Blindess. N.p., n.d. Web. .
<http://www.blindness.org/index.php?option=com_content&id=50&Itemid=67>.
White, Ronald. "Bionic eye maker has vision of the future." LAtimes. N.p., 27 Apr. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. <http://2sight.eu/images/stories/2- sight/pdf/20130427_latimes_bionic_eye.pdf>.
Key Concepts
1. Retinitis Pigmentosa and Macular Degeneration are
only causes that are eligible
2. Very crude resolution currently
3. Currently only one FDA approved but more options to
come
4. Electric pulses used to excite optic nerve and interpret
light
5. Differences in Argus and Bio-Retina
Questions?