INDEX

Chapter no. Title Page no.

Abstract i
List of Figures ii
Chapter 1 Human Eye 1-5
1.1 How the Human Eyeworks 2
1.2 Visual Acuity and 20/20 vision 2
1.3 Why people needGlasses 3
1.3.1 Myopia 3
1.3.2 Hyperopia 3
1.3.3 Astigmatism 3
1.3.4 Presbyopia 4
1.4 VirtualImpairment 4
1.4.1 LegalBlindness 4
1.4.2 Severe VisualImpairment 4
1.4.3 VisuallyImpaired 5
1.4.4 LowVision 5

Chapter 2 The Bionic Eye 6-8

2.1 What areBIONICS? 6
2.2 BionicEye 7

Chapter 3 Biological Considerations 9-11

3.1 MacularDegeneration 9
3.2 RetinitisPigmentosa 10

Chapter 4 Working of Bionic Implant 12-21

4.1 Working 12
4.2 Retinal ProsthesisSystem 15
4.2.1 Effects 16
4.2.2 Design 17
4.2.3 Regulation Status 17
4.2.4 Company History andDevelopment 17
4.3 Bionic ContactLens 18
4.3.1 Manufacture 18
4.3.2 Components 18
4.3.3 Development 20
4.3.4 ProtypeTesting 20

Chapter 5 On Going Projects of Bionic Eye 22-39

5.1 ARGUS II 22
5.1.1 Argus Retinal Prosthesis 22
5.1.2 Effects 23
5.1.3 Design 23
5.1.4 Regulation Status 23
5.1.5 Company History anddevelopment 24
5.2 Harvard/MIT RetinalImplant 24
5.3 Bionic VisionAustralia 25
5.3.1 EarlyPrototype 27
5.3.2 Wide ViewDevice 27
5.3.3 High AcuityDevice 28
5.4 Visual CorticalImplant 29
 5.4.1 CorticalImplant 29
5.4.2 Visual CorticalImplant 29
5.4.3 VisualImplant 30
5.4.4 AuditoryImplant 31
5.4.5 CognitiveImplant 31
5.4.6 Brain-Computer Interfaces 32
5.4.7 Advantages 34
5.4.8 Disadvantages 34
5.4.9 FutureDevelopments 35
5.5 CeramicPhotocells 36
5.6 The MARCSystem 36
5.7 Advantages and Disadvantages of BionicEye 38
5.7.1 Advantages 38
5.7.2 Disadvantages 39

Chapter 6 Conclusion 40
Future Scope 41
References 42
 ABSTRACT

Bionic eye is an artificial electronic eye. The main purpose of bionic eye is to provide
vision, partially to the visually challenged people by the use of modern-day electronic devices
like charge coupled device (CCD) camera and bionic eye implant. The implant is a small chip
that is surgically implanted behind the retina in the eye ball. It could restore the eye sight of the
people who suffer from age related blindness. There are two basic methodologies of Bionic eye,
multiple unit artificial retina chip system (MARC) and artificial silicon retina system(ASR).

i
 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure No. Name of Figures Page No.

1 Human Eye 1
2.2 Bionic Eye 8
3.2 Macular Degeneration 10
3.3 Retinitis Pigmentosa 11
4.1 How the Bionic Eye Implant 12
Works
4.1. a Retinal Implant 14
4.2 Second Sight 15
4.2. a Argus II 16
4.3.4 Bionic Contact Lens 21
5.1.1 Argus II System 22
5.2 Retina Implant 25
5.3.2 Bionic Vision Australia 28
5.4 Cognitive Implants 32
5.4.6 Brain Computer Interfaces 33
5.4.9 Visual Cortical Implant 35
5.6 Image Formation with MARC 36
System
5.6. a Block Diagram of MARC 37
System

ii
Bionic Eye

CHAPTER 1

HUMAN EYE
We are able to see because light from an object can move through space and reach our
eyes. Once light reaches our eyes, signals are sent to our brain, and our brain deciphers the
information in order to detect the appearance, location and movement of the objects we are
sighting at.
The human eye is an organ that reacts to light and has several purposes. As a conscious
senseorgan,themammalianeyeallowsvision.Rodandconecellsintheretinaallowconscious light
perception and vision including colour differentiation and the perception of depth. The human
eye can distinguish about 10 million colours.
Similartotheeyesofothermammals,thehumaneye'snon-image-formingphotosensitive
ganglioncellsintheretinareceivelightsignalswhichaffectadjustmentofthesizeofthepupil,
regulation and suppression of the hormone melatonin and entrainment of the bodyclock.

Fig.1: Human Eye

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineerring 1

 The eyeball is present in a protective cone-shaped cavity in the skull called the orbit or
socketandmeasuresapproximatelyoneinchindiameter.Theorbitiscoveredbylayersofsoft, fatty
tissue which protect the eye and enable it to turn easily. The important part of an eye is retina.
The retina lies at the back of the eye and it acts as though the film in a camera act by
receiving and processing everything.

1.1 How the Human EyeWorks

Thehumaneyecanbecomparedtoacamerawhichgathers,focuses,andtransmitslight
throughalenstocreateanimageoftheenvironment.Inacamera,theimageiscreatedonfilm; in the
eye, the image is created on the retina, a thin layer of light sensitive cells at the back of the
eye. The lens of the eye bends, or refracts, light that enters theeye.

The cornea, which is a clear, transparent covering in the front portion of the eye also
contributes to focusing light on the retina. Nerve fibers extending back from the retina's nerve
cells come together behind the retina to form the optic nerve, a "cable" of nerve fibers
connecting the eye with the brain.

The optic nerve transmits messages about what we see from the eye to the brain. Like
acamera,thehumaneyecontrolstheamountoflightthatenterstheeyethroughthelensunder various
lightingconditions.

1.2 Visual Acuity and 20/20Vision

Visual acuity is the sharpness of vision determined by a person's ability to discriminate
fine details, and is measured by using specially devised tests and charts. One chart that is
commonly used for measuring visual acuity is the Snellen chart, which contains letters of the
alphabet arranged by line, with each line of letters from the bottom up increasing in size. The
letters on the lowest line are the smallest letters on the chart, and the letter at the top is the
largest. The character on the bottom line represents 20/20 vision; the single large letter at the
top represents 20/200, the designation of legal blindness.
When the Snellen chart is used, visual acuity is generally measured with a person seated 20
feet away from the chart. A person who has normal visual acuity has 20/20 vision.

This means that at 20 feet the person can see the line of letters that people with normal sight
see from 20 feet.

1.3 Why People Need Glasses—RefractiveErrors

Mostoftenpeopleneedtoweareyeglassestocorrectblurredordistortedvisioncaused by
imperfections in the eyes' focusing mechanism. These imperfections, which occur because
lightenteringtheeyeisnotbroughtintosharpfocusontheretina,areknownascommonerrors of
refraction or refractiveerrors.

Refractive errors occur as a result of irregularities in the shape of the cornea, the actual
sizeorshapeoftheeyeballitself,orthefocusingcapacityofthelens.Commonrefractiveerrors that
are fully corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses are not visual impairments because
sightcanbecorrectedtonormal.Nearlyeverypersonislikelytohavearefractiveerroratsome
pointinlife,especiallyafterage40,andperhapsneedtoweareyeglassesorcontactlenses.The
common refractive errorsare:

1.3.1 Myopia(Near-sightedness)
Myopiaisblurredvisionthatoccurswhentheeye'sfocusingmechanismbringslightto
afocusinfrontoftheretina,usuallybecausetheeyeballisveryelongatedinshape.Eyeglasses or
contact lenses correct myopia but do not slow or alter itsprogression.

1.3.2 Hyperopia (Far-sightedness)

Hyperopia is blurred vision that occurs when light is focused behind the retina,usually
becausetheeyeballisshortorsmall.Eyeglassesorcontactlensescorrecthyperopiabutdonot slow or
alter itsprogression.

1.3.3 Astigmatism
Astigmatism refers to an irregularly curved cornea that distorts the focus of light
entering the eye. Generally corrective lenses restore clear vision.
 1.3.4 Presbyopia
Presbyopia refers to the eye's loss of accommodation, the eye's focusing power and
ability to adjust the focus of the eye on the distance between the individual and the object.
People with presbyopia, typically those age 40 and older, experience a progressive inability to
focus for near vision viewing as the lens becomes less elastic with age. Lenses with
magnification are used to provide the correction needed. These lenses are commonly referred
to as "reading glasses," or necessary magnification can be added to a person's regular
eyeglasses as bifocals, or trifocals. Variablefocus lenses are also available to correct
presbyopia.
1.4 VisualImpairment
Visual impairment describes vision that cannot be fully corrected by ordinary
prescription lenses, medical treatment, or surgery. The term visual impairment includes
conditions ranging from the presence of good usable vision, low vision, or to the absence of
any sight at all--total blindness. Many terms are used when people refer to visual impairment.
These terms are explained below.

1.4.1 LegalBlindness
Legal blindness defines visual conditions that, when present, connote eligibility for
governmentorotherbenefitsandservices.Anindividualwhoislegallyblindhasavisualacuity
of20/200inthebettereyewiththebestcorrectionoravisualfieldofnomorethan20degrees.

1.4.2 Severe VisualImpairment

SeverevisualimpairmentisatermusedbyresearchersattheNationalCenterforHealth
Statistics (NCHS) to describe visual impairment in people who are unable to read ordinary
newsprint even with correction. This term, used primarily for studying visual impairment in
thepopulation,isnotusedinclinicalreferencesbyeyecareprofessionals.Peoplewithasevere visual
impairment may or may not be legallyblind.
 1.4.3 VisuallyImpaired
The term visually impaired, also used by the National Center for Health Statistics for
studying visual impairment in the population, describes visual impairment in people whohave
difficulty reading ordinary newsprint even with correction. Like the term severe visual
impairment,visualimpairmentisusedbyresearcherswhostudythepopulation,andisnotused in
clinicalreferences.

1.4.4 LowVision
Lowvisionisaclinicaldiagnostictermusedtodescribeimpairedvisionthatcannotbe
improved by conventional eyeglasses, contact lenses, medications, or surgery in which some
goodusablevisionremains.Peoplewithlowvisioncanlearntomakethebestuseofthevision
available tothem.
 CHAPTER 2

THE BIONIC EYE

2.1 What areBIONICS?
The word ‘bionic’ is derived from a combination of the word’s ‘biology’ and
‘electronic.’Medical bionics is the field of science at the interface of engineering, biology and
medicine, which seeks to replace lost physiological functions through technical and electronic
means.

There are three categories of medical bionic devices:

Those that send signals from the brain to another part of the body (e.g. bionic hand);
Those that send signals from the body to the brain (e.g. bionic ear);
Thosewhoseactionisrestrictedtoonepartofthebodywithoutbecoming partofthe nervous
system (e.g. cardiacpacemaker).
Bionics (also known as bionical creativity engineering) is the application of biological
methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and
modern technology.[citation needed]
The word bionic was coined by Jack E. Steele, possibly originating from the technical
termbion(pronouncedbee-on)(fromAncientGreek:βίος),meaning‘unitoflife’andthesuffix
–ic,meaning‘like’or‘inthemannerof’,hence‘likelife’.Somedictionaries,however,explain the
word as being formed as a portmanteau from biology + electronics. It was popularized by the
1970s television series The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman, which were
based upon the novel Cyborg by Martin Caidin, which was influenced by Steele’s work, and
feature humans given superhuman powers by electromechanicalimplants.
 The transfer of technology between lifeforms and manufactures is, according to
proponents of bionic technology, desirable because evolutionary pressure typically forces
livingorganisms,includingfaunaandflora,tobecomehighlyoptimizedandefficient.Aclassic
example is the development of dirt- and water-repellent paint (coating) from the observation
that the surface of the lotus flower plant is practically unsticky for anything (the lotuseffect).
Ekso Bionics is currently developing and manufacturing intelligently powered
exoskeleton bionic devices that can be strapped on as wearable robots to enhance thestrength,
mobility, and endurance of soldiers and paraplegics.
The term "biomimetic" is preferred when reference is made to chemical reactions.
[citation needed] In that domain, biomimetic chemistry refers to reactions that, in nature,
involve biological macromolecules (for example, enzymes or nucleic acids) whose chemistry
can be replicated using much smaller molecules in vitro.
Examples of bionics in engineering include the hulls of boats imitating the thick skin of
dolphins; sonar, radar, and medical ultrasound imaging imitating the echolocation of bats.
In the field of computer science, the study of bionics has produced artificial neurons,
artificial neural networks, and swarm intelligence. Evolutionary computation was also
motivated by bionics ideas but it took the idea further by simulating evolution in silico and
producing well-optimized solutions that had never appeared in nature.
It is estimated by Julian Vincent, professor of biomimetics at the University of Bath's
departmentofmechanicalengineeringBiomimeticsgroup,that"atpresentthereisonlya12%
overlap between biology and technology in terms of the mechanismsused"

2.2 BionicEye
Itisanartificialeyewhichprovokesvisualsensationsinthebrainbydirectlystimulating
different parts of the optic nerve. Bionic eye consist of electronic systems which consist of
image sensors, processors, receivers, radio transmitters and retinal chips. There are also other
experimental implants that can stimulate the ganglia cells on the retina or the visual cortex of
the brainitself.
Technology paved way through a bionic eye to allow blind people to see again.

Fig. 2.2: Bionic Eye

It comprises a computer chip which is kept in the back of the individual's eye, linked
up using a mini video camera built into glasses that they wear. Images captured by the camera
are beamed to the chip, which translates them into impulses that the brain can interpret.

Althoughtheimagesproducedbytheartificialeyewerefarfromperfect,theycouldbe clear
enough to allow someone who is otherwise blind to recognise faces. The breakthrough is
likely to benefit patients with the most common cause of blindness, macular degeneration,
which affects 500,000people.

Thisoccurswhenthereisdamagetothemacula,whichisinthecentralpartoftheretina where
light is focused and changed into nerve signals in the middle of the brain. The implant
bypasses the diseased cells in the retina and stimulates the remaining viablecells.
 CHAPTER 3

BIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Theabilitytogivesighttoablindpersonviaabioniceyedependsonthecircumstances
surrounding the loss ofsight.

1) For retinal prostheses, which are the most prevalent visual prosthetic under development,
patients with vision loss due to degeneration of photoreceptors (retinitis pigmentosa,
macular degeneration) are the best candidate fortreatment

2) Candidates for visual prosthetic implants find the procedure most successful if the optic
nerve was developed prior to the onset ofblindness.

3.1 MacularDegeneration

Macular degeneration, often age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD),

is a medicalcondition that usually affects older adults and results in a loss of vision in the
center of the visual field (the macula) because of damage to the retina. It occurs in "dry" and
"wet" forms. It is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment in older adults (>50
years). Macular degeneration can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces,
although enough peripheral vision remains to allow other activities of daily life.

Although some macular dystrophies affecting younger individuals are sometimes

referred to as macular degeneration, the term generally refers to age-related macular
degeneration (AMD or ARMD).

The retina is a network of visual receptors and nerves. It lies on the choroid, a network
of blood vessels which supplies the retina with blood.

In the dry (nonexudative) form, cellular debris called drusen accumulates between the
retinaandthechoroid,andtheretinacanbecomedetached.Inthewet(exudative)form,which
ismoresevere,bloodvesselsgrowupfromthechoroidbehindtheretina,andtheretinacan
also become detached. It can be treated with laser coagulation, and with medication that stops
and sometimes reverses the growth of blood vessels.

Fig.3.2: Macular Degeneration

3.2 Retinitis pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited, degenerative eye disease that causes

severe vision impairment and often blindness. The progress of RP is not consistent. Some
people will exhibit symptoms from infancy, others may not notice symptoms until later in
life. Generally, the later the onset, the more rapid is the deterioration in sight. Those who do
not have RP have 90-degree peripheral vision, while some people who have RPhave less than
90degrees.

A form of retinal dystrophy, RP is caused by abnormalities of

the photoreceptors (rods and cones) or the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of
theretinaleadingtoprogressivesightloss.Affectedindividualsmayexperiencedefectivelight to
dark, dark to light adaptation or nyctalopia (night blindness), light to dark, dark to light
adaptationornyctalopia(nightblindness),astheresultofthedegenerationofthe peripheral
visual field (known as tunnel vision). Sometimes, central vision is lost first causing theperson
to look sidelong at objects.

The effect of RP is best illustrated by comparison to a television or computer screen.

The pixels of light that form the image on the screen equate to the millions of light receptors
ontheretinaoftheeye.Thefewerpixelsonascreen,thelessdistinctwillbetheimagesitwill display.
Fewer than 10 percent of the light receptors in the eye receive the coloured, high intensity
light seen in bright light or daylight conditions. These receptors are located in the center of
the circular retina. The remaining 90 percent of light receptors receive Gray-scale, low
intensity light used for low light and night vision and are located around the periphery of the
retina. RP destroys light receptors from the outside inward, from the center outward, or in
sporadicpatcheswithacorrespondingreductionintheefficiencyoftheeyetodetectlight.This
degeneration is progressive and has no knowncure.

Fig.3.3: Retinitis Pigmentosa

 CHAPTER4

WORKING OF THE BIONIC IMPLANT

4.1 Working
A bionic eye implant that could help restore the sight of millions of blind people could
be available to patients within two years.

This device is 2 millimetres across and contains some 3,500 micro photodiodes which
isplacedbehindtheretina,thiscollectionofminiaturesolarcellsisdesignedtoconvertnormal light to
electrical signals, which are then transmitted to the brain by theremaining

Fig. 4.1: How the Bionic Eye Implant Works

healthypartsofthe retina.ABelgiandevicehasacoil that coversaroundthe opticnerve,with only
four points of electrical contact. By shifting the phase and varying the strength of the
signals,thecoilcanstimulatedifferentpartsoftheopticnerve,ratherlikethewaytheelectron
gunsinTVsareaimedatdifferentpartsofthescreen.Thevideosignalsendersfromanexternal
cameraandaretransmittedtotheimplantthrougharadioantennaandmicrochipundertheskin just
behind the ear. Implants of a microchip, smaller than the head of a pin and about half the
thickness of a sheet of paper were used to removeblindness.

The eye-position monitor controls the image camera's orientation. If the image-
acquisition camera is not mounted on the head, compensation for head movement will be
needed.Finally,ifaretinalprosthesisistoreceivepowerandsignalinputfromoutsidetheeye via an
IR beam entering the pupil, the transmitter must be aligned with the intraocularchip.

The beam has played two roles: one is to sends power, and another is to send pulse - or
amplitude - modulated to transmit image data. Using the control of eye movement, the main
imaging camera for each eye can swivel in any direction. Each of these cameras--located just
outside the users' field of view to avoid blocking whatever peripheral vision they might have
captures the image of the outside world and transmits the information through an optical fibre
to a signal-processing computer worn on the body.

TheArgusIIsystemusesaspectacle-mountedcamerawhichisusedtosendinformation to
electrodes in the eye. Patients who tested less-advanced versions of the retinal implantwere
able to see light, shapes andmovement.

The function of Bionic eye is to take real-time images from a camera and convert into
tiny electrical pulses that help the blind eyes to see.

1: Camera which is implanted on glasses helps to view the image.

2: Signals are sent to hand-held device

3: The information which processed is sent back to glasses and wirelessly transmitted
to receiver under surface of eye.
 4: Receiver sends information to electrodes in retinal implant.

5: Electrodes stimulate retina to send information to brain

Fig. 4.1.a: Retinal Implant

Retinal implants can partially restore the vision of people with particular blindness
caused by diseases such as macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa. About one and half
millionpeopleworldwidehaveretinitispigmentosa,andoneintenpeopleovertheageoffifty-
fivehaveage-relatedmaculardegeneration.Bothdiseasescausetheretinalcellswhichprocess light
at the back of the eye to graduallydiminish.

The new device invented work by implanting an array of tiny electrodes into the back
of the retina. A camera is used to capture pictures which consist of a processing unit about the
size of a small handheld computer and worn on a belt helps to convert the visual information
into electrical signals.

These are then sent back to the glasses and wirelessly on to a receiver just under the
surface of the front of the eye, which in turn feeds them to the electrodes at the rear.

• GrowingDots
 First-generation, low-resolution devices have already been fitted to six patients.

• BrainChange
The new implant has a higher resolution than the earlier devices, with 60 electrodes.

4.2 RETINAL PROSTHESISSYSTEM

Second Sight Medical has just received USFDA.

InvestigationalDeviceExemption(IDE)tobeginclinicaltrialsfortheirArgusIIRetinal
Prosthesis System.

Fig. 4.2: Second Sight

At Second Sight, their retinal prosthesis uses an array of electrodes to stimulate the
retina.Itrestoresalowlevelofvisioninpatientswithdegenerativediseases.Theirfirstimplant had
sixteen electrodes; the new Argus II has 60electrodes.

The Argus II implant consists of an array of electrodes that are attached to the retina
and used with an external camera and video processing system to provide a rudimentary form
ofsighttoimplantedsubjects.AnIDEtrialofthefirst-generationimplant(Argus™16),which has
sixteen electrodes, is ongoing at the Doheny Eye Institute at the University of Southern
California. The Argus 16 was implanted in six Patients and has enabled them to detect when
lightsareonoroff,recognizeanobject’smotion,countitems,aswellaslocateanddifferentiate basic
objects in thesurrounding.

Fig. 4.2.a: Argus II

The next generation Argus II retinal stimulator is designed with 60 controllable

electrodes, which should provide implanted subjects with higher resolution images. Second
Sightremainstheonlymanufacturerwithanactivelypoweredpermanentlyimplantableretinal
prosthesis under clinical study in the United States, and the technology represents the highest
electrode count for such a device anywhere in theworld.

4.2.1 Effects
InclinicaltrialtheArgusIIsystemhasbeenimplantedintoatotalof32people.Thebest result
achieved by the device was a visual acuity of 20/1260, where blindness is defined as
greaterthan20/500bytheWorldHealthOrganization,andas20/200intheUnitedStates.Thus,
whilevisionhasbeenimproved,nocasesofactualblindnesshavebeenresolvedbythedevice.
Withrespecttosafety,seriousadverseeffectsoccurredinelevenoutof30users,minoradverse
effects occur in 17 out of 30 users, and no adverse effects were found in only two of the trial
users. One user had their Argus device removed due to a severe adverse event.

4.2.2 Design
The Argus II is primarily designed to treat sufferers of retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic
ocular disease which affects approximately 1.5 million people worldwide. The device consists
of two primary elements – a retinal implant and an external system consisting of an eyeglass-
mounted camera in combination with a small processor. The camera records real-time images,
which are processed and sent wirelessly to the implant by a built-in video processor. The
implant then uses 60 electrodes to stimulate the patient's remaining healthy retinal cells and
sendvisualinformationtotheopticnerve,thusrestoringtheabilitytodiscernlight,movement,
andshapes.Insomecases,theArgusIIcanrestoresufficientvisiontoallowblinduserstoread large
print books. The Argus II has a unit cost of aroundUS$100,000.

4.2.3 Regulationstatus
TheArgusIIreceivedapprovalforclinicalandcommercialuseintheEuropeanUnion. It was
initially available at a limited number of clinics in France and Switzerland, and had an
EUmarketpriceof$115,000.Thereafter,SecondSightbeganseekingUSclinicalapprovalfor the
device. The advisers to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted unanimously to
approve the Argus II. The FDA approved the Argus II as a "humanitarian use device",
authorizing its use for up to 4,000 US patients per year. Second Sight announced that
reimbursement payments had been approved for the Argus II for blind Medicare recipients in
theUSA.

4.2.4 Company history anddevelopment

The implant's developer, Second Sight, was founded in Sylmar, California, although
low-level research and design efforts began. The first version of the prosthesis, the Argus I,
wasdeveloped,andclinicallytestedonsixpatients.Thesecondversion,theArgusII,wasfirst tested
in Mexico, whereafter a 30-patient clinical trial was conducted in ten medical centers across
Europe and the United States.
4.3 Bionic ContactLens
Bioniccontactlensesarebeingdevelopedtoprovideavirtualdisplaythatcouldhavea
varietyofusesfromassistingthevisuallyimpairedtothevideogameindustry.Thedevicewill have
the form of a conventional contact lens with added bionics technology in the form of
Augmented Reality, with functional electronic circuits and infrared lights to create a virtual
display. Babak Parviz, a University of Washington assistant professor of electricalengineering
is quoted as saying "Looking through a completed lens, you would see what the display is
generating superimposed on the world outside.”

4.3.1 Manufacture

Therearecertaintechnicalrequirementsthatengineershavetomeetinordertodevelop safe
bionic lenses. First, power must be provided to bionic lenses via wireless mediums. Second,
bionic lenses have to be bio-compatible. These requirements challenge engineers by limiting
their material choice and imposing a regulatory standard regarding radio-frequency radiation

Third, micro-scale components should be mechanically and electrically integrated on a

polymersubstrate.Andfinally,alloftheseoperationshavetobecompletedwithinthevolume of
standard contact lenses, that being 1 cm² in area with a thickness of 200μm orsmaller.

How the Bionic Lens Works: basically, an antenna on the lens picks up a radio
frequency. The integrated circuit transforms and stores this energy. Chips harvest this energy
and convert it into voltage that is necessary to power the LEDs. LEDs create an image, and
Fresnel lenses are used to project the generated image onto the retina.

4.3.2 Components

Antenna- The main function of the antenna is to pick up radio frequency energy
transmitted by an outlying source. Antenna design is influenced by physical constraints rather
than efficiency concerns. Because antennas have to fit the lens and be compatible with theeye
physiology, an antenna with 5 mm radius, 0.5 mm width, and 5.0 μm thickness was designed
to harvest RF energy. The antenna design is the main determinant of the amount of power that
can be received. With the current antenna design, there is only a small amount of power
available for the bionic lens. As the distance between the contact lens and the transmitting
antenna decreases, more power is available due to near field interactions.

Integrated Circuit (IC)- The electronic circuits are a few nanometers thick, and they
are used for power harvesting and LED control.

Self-Assembly Technique- Self-assembly is a micro-fabrication technique that is

widely used where micro-scale fabrication is necessary and where there is a delicatesubstrate.
In bionic lens production, it is used to position the electrical circuit components in their
respective locations within the lens. Electrical components are initially sprinkled onto a sheet
of flexible plastic. The shape of each tiny component determines the location to which it can
be attached. Capillary forces do the rest of the job to position each component in its location.

Chip-Thechipharvestsenergyandtransformsitintovoltagethatisnecessarytopower the
LED. The current working prototype consists of a transparent sapphire chip that containsa
custom-designed micro-light emitting diode with peak emission at 475nm.

Light-Emitting Diode (LED)- LEDs are the core technology behind the bionic lens
because they form images in front of the eye, whether they are in the form of words, charts,or
photographs. Current LED chips measure 300 nanometers in diameter, while the “light
emitting” zone on each chip is a 60 nanometers wide ring with a radius of 112 nanometers.
Light-emitting diodes are one-third of a millimeter. While red LEDs were previously used for
prototypedevelopment, currentlyblueLEDsarepreferredtoachieveafullcolordisplay.GaN and its
alloys are also preferred due to their nontoxicity, high efficiency and emission wavelength.
Micro-LED design with a peak intensity of approximately 475 nm is achieved, and it is
adequate to illuminate theretina
Bionic Eye

Fresnel Lenses- The minimum focal distance of the human eye doesn’t enable images
generatedbytheLEDstoreachtheretinafromthebioniclens.Eventhoughthehumaneyehas a
minimum focal distance of several centimeters, it is not capable of resolving objects on a
lens.Microlensesprovideasolutiontothischallenge.Amicrolensisalenswitha1.8diameter as small
as 10 micrometers; it can be fabricated on a plastic substrate. These lenses have
diffractionandreflectionpropertiesanddifferentfocallengthsandthesevariousfunctionalities
canbeusedtoaddressdifferentdesignchallenges. Fresnellensesareafundamentalpartofthe bionic
lens design since they address the problem of focusing an image to the retina. They are a class
of micro lenses with a distinctive focusing property. They can easily be fabricated on
substrates and they can be structured to have a short focal length. LED output is successfully
reflected to the retina in this single-pixel wireless contact lens.

Polymer Substrate with Electrical Interconnects- The lens itself consists of

polyethyleneterephthalate(PET).Thismaterialissuitableespeciallyforbioniclensesbecause of its
good chemical resistance, and thermal stability during photolithography and transparency.
The antenna, electrical interconnections, electrical isolation and pads for solder coating are
directly manufactured on the contact lens.

4.3.3 Development

Harvey Ho, a former graduate student of Parviz who worked at Sandia National
Laboratories in Livermore, California presented the results at the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers' International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems
(or micro robotics) in Tucson, Arizona. The lens is expected to have more electronics and
capabilitiesontheareas wheretheeyedoesnotsee.Wirelesscommunication,radiofrequency power
transmission and solar cells are expected in futuredevelopments.

4.3.4 Prototype &Testing

Scientists created and successfully tested a functioning prototype with a wireless

antenna and a single-pixel display.

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineerring 20

Bionic Eye

Previousprototypesprovedthatitispossibletocreateabiologicallysafeelectroniclens that
does not obstruct a person’s view. Engineers have tested the finished lenses on rabbits for up
to 20 minutes and the animals showed noproblems.

Fig.4.3.4: Bionic Contact Lens

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineerring 21

 CHAPTER5

ONGOING PROJECTS OF BIONIC EYE

5.1 ARGUSII
5.1.1 Argus RetinalProsthesis

The Argus Retinal Prosthesis is an electronic retinal implant produced by the

California-basedcompanySecondSight. Itisdesignedprimarilytoimprovethevisionofthose with
severe cases of the inherited disease retinitis pigmentosa. The Argus II version of the system
was approved for clinical and commercial use in the European Union. The Argus II became
the first commercial visual prosthesis to be approved for use in the UnitedStates.

The system provides only a modest improvement in vision – with the best clinically
proven outcome being a visual acuity of 20/1260 – and most users experience some degree of
adverse side effects, with these reportedly being severe in 36%.

Fig 5.1.1: Argus II System

 5.1.2 Effects

In clinical trials the Argus II system has been implanted into a total of 32 people. The
best result achieved by the device was a visual acuity of 20/1260, where blindness is defined
as greater than 20/500 by the World Health Organization, and as 20/200 in the United States.
Thus, while vision has been improved, no cases of actual blindness have been resolved by the
device.Withrespecttosafety,seriousadverseeffectsoccurredinelevenoutof30users,minor adverse
effects occur in 17 out of 30 users, and no adverse effects were found in only two of the trial
users. One user had their Argus device removed due to a severe adverseevent.

5.1.3 Design

The Argus II is primarily designed to treat sufferers of retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic

ocular disease which affects approximately 1.5 million people worldwide. The deviceconsists
of two primary elements – a retinal implant and an external system consisting of an eyeglass-
mounted camera in combination with a small processor. The camera records real-time images,
which are processed and sent wirelessly to the implant by a built-in video processor. The
implant then uses 60 electrodes to stimulate the patient's remaining healthy retinal cells and
sendvisualinformationtotheopticnerve,thusrestoringtheabilitytodiscernlight,movement, and
shapes. In some cases, the Argus II can restore sufficient vision to allow blind users to read
large print books books. The Argus II has a unit cost of aroundUS$100,000.

5.1.4 RegulationStatus

The Argus II received approval for clinical and commercial use in the European
Union. It was initially available at a limited number of clinics in France and Switzerland, and
had an EU market price of $115,000. Thereafter, Second Sight began seeking US clinical
approval for the device. Advisers to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted
unanimously to approve the Argus II. The FDA approved the Argus II as a "humanitarian use
device", authorizing its use for up to 4,000 US patients per year. Second Sight announcedthat
reimbursement payments had been approved for the Argus II for blind medicare recipients in
the USA.

5.1.5 Company History &Development

The implant's developer, Second Sight, was founded in Sylmar, California, although
low-levelresearchanddesigneffortsbeganearlier.Thefirstversionoftheprosthesis,theArgus I, was
developed, and clinically tested on six patients. The second version, the Argus II, was first
tested in Mexico, whereafter a 30-patient clinical trial was conducted in ten medical centers
across Europe and the United States.

5.2 Harvard/MIT RetinalImplant

Joseph Rizzo and John Wyatt at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and MIT
began researching the feasibility of a retinal prosthesis, and performed a number of proof-of-
concept epiretinal stimulation trials on blind volunteers.

Theyhavesincedevelopedasubretinalstimulator,anarrayofelectrodes,thatisplaced
beneath the retina in the subretinal space and receives image signals beamed from a camera
mountedonapairofglasses.Thestimulatorchipdecodesthepictureinformationbeamedfrom the
camera and stimulates retinal ganglion cellsaccordingly.

Theirsecond-generationprosthesiscollectsdataandsendsittotheimplantthroughRF fields
from transmitter coils that are mounted on the glasses. A secondary receiver coil is Sutured
around theiris.

We began to develop the idea of a retinal implant to restore some useful level of
vision to patients who are blind with outer retinal diseases, specifically retinitis pigmentosa
andmaculardegeneration.Theretinalimplantcanbeverycoarselyunderstoodasanalogous to the
cochlear implant for the deaf. Our surgical experience on animals and 6 human patients
caused us to dramatically change direction about ten years ago to developa
subretinal implant, i.e., an implant located immediately behind the retina rather than one
attached to the retina from the front.
This talk will show the development of our implant design, and the interaction of
packaging and surgical trials with animals. All the development so far has been done in an
academic setting. We will describe the final design we plan to submit to the FDA in 12-15
months for chronic human implantation, and will discuss the advantages we believe this
designoffersoverothersunderdevelopmentbyavarietyofcompaniesintheUSandEurope.

Fig.5.2: Retina Implant

5.3 Bionic VisionAustralia

An Australian team led by Professor Anthony Burkitt is developing two retinal

prostheses.TheWide-Viewdevice,combinesnoveltechnologieswithmaterialsthathavebeen
successfully used in other clinical implants. This approach incorporates a microchip with 98
stimulating electrodes and aims to provide increased mobility for patients to help them move
safely in their environment. This implant will be placed in the suprachoroidal space.
Researchers expect the first patient tests to begin with thisdevice.

The Bionic Vision Australia consortium is concurrently developing the High-Acuity

Device, which incorporates a number of new technologies to bring together a microchip and
an implant with 1024 electrodes. The device aims to provide functional central vision to assist
with tasks such as face recognition and reading large print. This high-acuity implant will be
inserted epiretinally. Patient tests are planned for this device in 2014 once preclinical testing
has been completed.

Patients with retinitis pigmentosa will be the first to participate in the studies,followed
by age-related macular degeneration, recognising Bionic Vision Australia is developing a
bionic eye to restore vision to people with retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular
degeneration.

Researcher’sgoalistorapidlydevelopinternationallycompetitiveretinalimplantsand
technologies that are shown to be clinically safe and effective in restoring sight, leading to
successfulcommercialisation.

They are working with three devices simultaneously:

1. Early 24-Electrodeprototype
2. Wide-Viewdevice
3. High-Acuitydevice

In addition to developing the hardware for these devices, our researchers are:

1) Designing strategies to electrically stimulate the remaining cells in the retina so

visual information can be passed along the visual pathway to thebrain
2) Establishing the safety and efficacy of our technology ahead of patienttests
3) Developing pre- and post-operative procedures for assessingpatients
4) Developing safe and reproducible surgical procedures for implanting these
devices intopatients.
 5.3.1 Earlyprototype

An early prototype bionic eye device was implanted in three patients with retinitis
pigmentosa. So far, tests have exceeded expectations. On switch on, all three patients reported
being able to see flashes of light as each of their electrodes was stimulated.
This device includes a retinal implant with 24 electrodes. A small lead wire extends
from the back of the eye to a connector behind the ear. An external system is connected to this
unitinthelaboratory,allowingresearcherstostimulatetheimplant.Thiselectricalstimulation
produces visual perceptions (called phosphenes) that appear as spots or flashes oflight.
The prototype has been designed to help researchers learn more about how the brain
will interpret information from electrical stimulation of the implant. Feedback from patients
allows researchers to develop more sophisticated vision processing and stimulation
techniques.
The public announcement of the successful patient tests in August received
significant mediacoverage.

Researchersconnectedanexternalcameratotheimplant,andpatientsarebasicshapes,
includinglettersandnumbers.Thenextstepswillincludeusingtheexternalcameratonavigate safely
around obstacles, and to develop effective ways of measuring these improvements in vision.

5.3.2 Wide-Viewdevice

Our Wide-View retinal implant uses some of the technologies which were employedin
cochlearimplants.

1) The implanted chip has 98 electrodes to stimulate the retina and enable patients
to perceivevision.
2) The device is implanted in the suprachoroidal space to protect the retina from
mechanical damage during insertion. This placement also helps keep the implant
stable and secure in itsposition.
 With this implant, we aim to provide patients the ability to move around large objects
such as buildings, cars and park benches and to lead more independent lives.

The Wide-View device may be most suitable for patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
Researchers continue work on the device development and pre-clinical studies in preparation
for patient tests with this device in due course.

Fig:5.3.2 Bionic Vision Australia

5.3.3. High-Acuitydevice

The High-Acuity device aims to provide functional central vision, to assist with tasks
such as face-recognition and reading large prints.

1) Theimplantwillhaveanelectrodearraywith256stimulatingelectrodestoallow
patients to perceive more detailed vision. Future iterations of the implant will
include up to 1024electrodes.
 2) We are using diamond materials to form the electrode array and to seal the
implant. Diamond is very biocompatible because it is an inert material, which
minimises irritation to surrounding tissues. This means that the implant will be
safe to stay in the body for the lifetime of thepatient.
3) The first set of patient tests in 2014 will use a completely wired device. In the
next stage of testing, we aim to use a device with only some wiring, working
towards a totally wireless system in the final stage, where both data and power
will be transferred wirelessly to theimplant.

WiththeHigh-Acuitydevice,wehopepatients will beabletorecognisefacesandread large

print. The first patients for the High-Acuity device will be people with retinitis pigmentosa
but we are developing the technology so it will be suitable for people with age related
maculardegeneration.
5.4 Visual CorticalImplant
5.4.1 Cortical Implant

Cortical implants are a subset of neuro prosthetics that are in direct connections with
the cerebral cortex of the brain. By directly interfacing with different regions of the cortex,
these devices can provide stimulation to an immediate area and provide different benefits
depending on their design and placement. A typical cortical implant is an implantable
multielectrode array which is a small device through which a neural signal can be received or
transmitted.Thegoal ofcorticalimplantsandneuroprostheticsingeneralis"toreplaceneural
circuitry in the brain that no longer functionsappropriately."
5.4.2 Visual Cortical Implant

Cortical implants have a wide variety of potential uses, ranging from restoring vision
toblindpatientsorhelpingpatientssufferingfromdementia.Withthecomplexityofthebrain, the
possibilities for these brain implants to expand their usefulness are nearly endless. Some early
work in cortical implants involved stimulation of the visual cortex, using implantsmade
from silicone rubber. Since then, implants have developed into more complex devices using
new polymers, such as polymide. There are two ways that cortical implants can interface with
the brain, either intracortical (direct) or epicortical (indirect). Intracortical implants have
electrodesthatpenetrateintothebrain,whileepicorticalimplantshaveelectrodesthatstimulate
along the surface. Epicortical implants mainly record field potentials around them and are
generally more flexible compared to their intracortical counterparts. Since the intracortical
implantsgodeeperintothebrain,theyrequireastifferelectrode.However,duetomicromotion in the
brain, some flexibility is necessary in order to prevent injury to the braintissue.

5.4.3 VisualImplant

Certain types of cortical implants can partially restore vision by directly stimulating
thevisualcortex.Earlyworktorestorevisionthroughcorticalstimulationbeganwiththework of
Brindley and Dobelle. With their initial experimentation, some patients were able to
recognize small images at fairly close distances. Their initial implant was based on thesurface
of the visual cortex and it did not provide as clear of images that it could, with an added
downside of damage to surrounding tissues. More recent models, such as the "Utah" electrode
array use deeper cortical stimulation that would hypothetically provide higher resolution
images with less power needed, thus causing less damage. One of the major benefits to this
method of artificial vision over any other visual Prosthetic is that it bypasses many neurons of
the visual pathway that could be damaged, potentially restoring vision to a greater number of
blindpatients.

However, there are some issues that come with direct stimulation of the visual cortex.
As with all implants, the impact of their presence over extended periods of time must be
monitored.Ifanimplant needstoberemovedorre-positionedafterafewyears,complications can
occur. The visual cortex is much more complex and difficult to deal with than the other areas
where artificial vision are possible, such as the retina or optic nerve. The visual field is
mucheasiertoprocessindifferentlocationsotherthanthevisualcortex.Inaddition,eachareas
ofthecortexarespecializedtodealwithdifferentaspectsofvision,sosimpledirectstimulation
will not provide complete images to patients. Lastly, surgical operations dealing with brain
implants are extremely high-risk for patients, so the research needs to be further improved.
However, cortical visual prostheses are important to people who have a completed damaged
retina, optic nerve or lateral geniculate body, as they are one of the only ways, they would be
able to have their vision restored, so further developments will need to be sought out.

5.4.4 AuditoryImplants

While there has been little development in developing an effective auditory prosthesis
that directly interfaces with the auditory cortex, there are some devices such as an auditory
brainstemimplantanda cochlearimplantthathavebeensuccessfulinrestoringhearingtodeaf
patients. There have also been some studies that have used multi-electrode arrays to take
readingsfromtheauditorycortexinanimals.Onestudyhasbeenperformedonratstodevelop
animplantthatenabledsimultaneousreadingsfromboththeauditorycortexandthe thalamus. The
readings from this new multi-electrode array were similar in clarity to other readily available
devices that did not provide the same simultaneous readings. With studies like this,
advancements can be made that could lead to new auditoryprostheses.

5.4.5 CognitiveImplants

Somecorticalimplantshavebeendesignedimprovecognitivefunction.Theseimplants are
placed in the prefrontal cortex or the hippocampus. Implants in the prefrontal cortex help
restore attention, decision-making and movement selection by duplicating the minicolumnar
organization of neural firings. A hippocampal prosthetic aims to help with restoration of a
patient's full long-term memory capabilities. Researchers are trying to determine the neural
basisformemorybyfindingouthowthebrainencodesdifferentmemoriesinthehippocampus.
 Fig:5.4 CognitiveImplants

Apatientthinksaboutmovingamousepointer.Thebraincomputerinterfacetakesthat thought and translates it

By mimicking the natural coding of the brain with electrical stimulation, researchers
look to replace compromised hippocampal regions and restore function Treatment for several
conditions that impact cognition such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and head trauma can
benefit from the development of a hippocampal prosthetic. Epilepsy has also been linked to
dysfunction in the CA3 region of the hippocampus.

5.4.6 Brain-ComputerInterfaces

A Brain-computer Interface (BCI) is a type of implant that allows for a direct

connectionbetweenapatient'sbrainandsomeformofexternalhardwareSince,theamountof
researchdoneonBCI'sinbothanimalandhumanmodelshasgrownexponentially.Mostbrain-
computer interfaces are used for some form of neural signal extraction, while some attempt to
return sensation through an implanted signal. As an example of signal extraction, a BCI may
takeasignalfromaparaplegic patient'sbrainanduseittomovearoboticprosthetic.Paralyzed
patientsgetagreatamountofutilityfromthesedevicesbecausetheyallowforareturnof
controltothepatient.Currentresearchforbrain-computerinterfacesisfocusedondetermining
whichregionsofthebraincanbemanipulatedbyanindividual.Amajorityofresearchfocuses on the
sensorimotor region of the brain, using imagined motor actions to drive the devices, while
some studies have sought to determine if the cognitive control network would be a suitable
location for implantations. This region is a "neuronal network that coordinates mental
processesintheserviceofexplicitintentionsortasks,"drivingthedevicebyintent,ratherthan
imagined motion. An example of returning sensation through an implanted signal would be
developing a tactile response for a prosthetic limb. Amputees have no touch response in
artificial limbs, but through an implant in their somatosensory cortex could potentially give
them an artificial sense oftouch.

Fig. 5.4.6: Brain Computer Interface

A current example of a brain-computer interface would be the Brain Gate a device

developed by Cyber Kinetics. This BCI is currently undergoing a second round of clinical
trials. An earlier trial featured a patient with a severe spinal cord injury with no control over
any of his limbs. He succeeded in operating a computer mouse with only thoughts. Further
developments have been made that allow for more complex interfacing, such as controlling a
robotic arm.
 5.4.7 Advantages

Perhaps one of the biggest advantages that cortical implants have over other neuro
prosthesesisbeingdirectlyinterfacedwiththecortex.Bypassingdamagedtissuesinthe visual
pathway allows for a wider range of treatable patients. These implants can also act as a
replacementfordamagetissuesinthecortex.Theideaofbiomimicryallows fortheimplantto act as
an alternate pathway forsignals.
5.4.8 Disadvantages
Havinganysortofimplantthatisdirectlyconnectedtothecortexpresentssomeissues. A
major issue with cortical implants is biocompatibility, or how the body will respond to a
foreign object. If the body rejects the implant, then the implant will be more of a detriment to
thepatientinsteadofabenefit.Inadditiontobiocompatibility,oncetheimplantisinplace,the
bodymayhaveanadversereactiontoitoveranextendedperiodoftime,renderingtheimplant useless.
Implanting a multi electrode array can cause damage to the surrounding tissue.
Developmentofscalartissuearoundtheelectrodescanpreventsomesignalsfromreachingthe
neurons the implant is meant to. Most multi electrode arrays require neuronal cell bodies tobe
with 50μm of the electrodes to provide the best function, and studies have shown that
chronically implanted animals have significantly reduced cell density within this range.
Implants have been shown to cause neuro degeneration at the site of implantation aswell.

Neural coding represents a difficulty faced by cortical implants, and in particular,

implants dealing with cognition. Researchers have found difficulty in determining how the
brain codes distinct memories. For example, the way the brain codes the memory of a chair is
vastlydifferentfromthewayitcodesforalamp.Withafullunderstandingofthe neural code, more
progress can be made in developing a hippocampal prosthetic that can more effectively
enhancememory.

Due to the uniqueness of every patient's cortex, it is difficult to standardize procedures

involving direct implantation. There are many common physical features between brains, but
an individual gyrus or sulcus(neuroanatomy) can be different when compared. This leads to
difficulties because it causes each procedure to be unique, thus taking longer to perform.

5.4.9 FutureDevelopments

Asmoreresearchisperformedon,furtherdevelopmentswillbemadethatwillincrease the
viability and usability of cortical implants. Decreasing the size of the implants would help
withkeepingprocedureslesscomplicatedandreducingthebulk.Thelongevityofthesedevices is
also being considered as developments are made. The goal with the development of new
implants is "to avoid the hydrolytic, oxidative and enzymatic degradation due to the harsh
environment of the human body or at least to slow it down to a minimum which enables the
interfacetoworkoveralongtimeperiod,beforeitfinallyhastobeexchanged."Withextended
operational lifetimes, fewer operations would need to be performed for maintenance, allowing
for the number of polymers that are now able to be used for neural implants has increased,
allowing for a greater diversity of devices. As technology improves, researchers are able to
more densely place electrodes into arrays, permitting high selectivity. Other areas of
investigation are the battery packs that power these devices. Effort has been made to try and
reducetheoverallsizeandbulkinessofthesepackstomakethemlessobtrusiveforthepatient.
Reducing the amount of power each implant requires is also of interest, as this will reduce the
amount of heat the implant makes, therefore reducing the risk of damage to the surrounding
tissues.

Fig.5.4.9: Visual Cortical Implant

5.5 CeramicPhotocells

ScientistsattheSpaceVacuumEpitaxyCentre(SVEC)basedattheUniversityofHouston,
Texas,usesanewmaterial,comprisingtinyceramicphotocellsthatdetectsincominglightand repair
malfunctioning human eyes. Scientists at SVEC are conducting preliminary tests on the
biocompatibilityofthisceramicdetector.TheartificialretinasconstructedbySVECconsistof
1,00,000 tiny ceramic detectors, each1/20th the size of a human hair. The assemblage is so
small that surgeons can’t safely handle it. So, the arrays are attached to a polymer film one
millimetreinsize.Afterinsertionintoaneyeball,thepolymerfilmwillsimplydissolveleaving only
the array behind after a couple ofweeks.

5.6 The MARCSystem

Multiple Unit Artificial Retina Chipset (MARC): The other revolutionary bio
electronic eye is the MARC, this uses a CCD camera input and a laser beam or rf to transmit
the image into the chip present in the retina. Using this a resolution of 100 pixels is achieved
by using a 10x10 array. It consists of a platinum or rubber silicon electrode array placedinside
the eye to stimulate thecells.

Fig 5.6: Image formation with MARC System

THE MARC SYSTEM BLOCK:

Outside Eye:

The video input to the marc system block is given through a CCD camera. This image is
further processed using a PDA sized image processor & to transmit it, we do pulse width
modulation in first stage and then ASK modulation is done. This signal is further amplified
using a class E power amplifier and transmitted using RF telemetry coils.

Inside Eye:

The signal received from the RF telemetry coils is power recovered and then these
signals is ASK demodulated and the data and clock is recovered from these signals and these
signals are sent to the configuration and control block of the chip which from its input decode
what information has to be sent to each of the electrodes and sends them this data. And the
electrodes in turn stimulate the cells in the eye so as to send this stimulation to the brain
through optic nerve and help brain in visualizing the image and while this process is going on
the status of each electrode is sent to the marc diagnostics chip outside the eye.

Block Diagram of Image Acquisition System:

Fig. 5.6.a: Block Diagram of MARC System

 The image acquisition system consists of a CMOS digital camera which acquires
images and sends it to the Analog to Digital Converter. It converts this analog input to digital
data. This data is first sent into a video buffer where it is processed, the images are color
mapped and these processed images are sent through RS232 interface. this serial data is then
sent to the electrodes or testing monitor through a RF circuit or laserbeam.

Marc Hermetic Sealing and Positioning:

The RF coils either intra ocular or extra ocular coil arrangement as shown in figure.
This rf probes receives the transmitted RF energy and give it to the MARC chip. The AC
wires from this coil is sent to the MARC chip. This chip is hermetically sealed in silicone gel
and the other sides of the chips have the electrodes, which stimulate the cells ineye.

Advantage of the Marc system:

• Compact Size – 6x6mm

• DiagnosticCapability

• Reduction of stress uponretina.

5.7 Advantages and Disadvantages of BionicEye

5.7.1 Advantages

1) It helps to correct thevision.

2) There is no necessity to suffer from long and shortsights.
3) It can be easily implanted.
4) It is the one approved byFDA.
5) Can be effortlesslyembedded.
6) The surgical methods are easier which lasts only for one and halfhours.
7) The component of the chip size is very small so can be easilyplaced.
8) This also leads to the reduced stress on theretina.
9) No batteries implanted within thebody.
 10) This can surely improve life of blind people at someextent.

5.7.2 Disadvantages

1) Bionic Eye technology can be implemented to only those who have a perfect optic
nerve.
2) Hugecost.
3) There are 120 million rods and 6 million cones in the retina of every healthy human
eye. Creating an artificial replacement for these is a riskytask.
4) Sibasedphotodetectorshavebeentriedinearlierattempts.ButSiistoxictothehuman body
and reacts unfavourably with fluids in theeye
5) With our present technology natural vision is notpossible.
6) It will not be helpful for glaucomapatients.
7) The small part damage will lead to total techniquefailure.
 CHAPTER 6

CONCLUSION

After a long period of research, the idea of developing bionic eye to give falsified vision
to blind patients has finally been recognized. Bionic eye (Bio-Electronic Eye) is another
breakthroughinbiomedicalengineeringthatprovidesvisiontothosewithpartialortotalvisual loss.
Researchers all over the world have aimed for solutions of artificial, bionic devices to
enhance the lives of individuals. It is kind of an artificial gift that will surely help people tore-
establish vision which lost due to some illness like muscular degeneration or retinitis
pigmentosa.About1.5millionindividualsaroundtheworldhaveretinitispigmentosa,andone of
every ten individuals over 55 have age related macular degeneration. Independent of the
geniusesandconsofthisframework,ifthisframeworkiscompletelyevolvedwithafront-line
innovationwilldefinitelygoingtochangethelivesofalargenumberofindividualsworldwide. It
probably won't re-establish the vision totally, however it can attempt to push them to at any
rate discover their way, perceive faces, reading something or visualize certain things. This is
the revolutionary technology in field of bioengineering that will be a leading technology
advancement in near future that deals with weak visualizationpower.
 FUTURE SCOPE

Future eye implants in the 2020’s and 30’s could provide smoother and more colorful
visual qualities, as opposed to the monotone and blocky view of the world in current-generation
devices. It may actually be possible to reach human eye quality, if the trend in pixel counts is
maintained.
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