What Is a Retinal Implant?
Artificial retina is a high-tech medical product implanted under the retina of blind people to achieve certain efficacy and tolerance.
Artificial retina
- Artificial retina
- In 1924,
- Artificial retina [8]
- In 1967, artificial vision devices implanted in the visual cortex were developed. The visual quality produced by this method is very poor, and research in this field has gradually begun to shift from visual cortical implantation to retinal implantation.
- In 1998, Dr. Robert Greenberg and SamWilliams founded the Second Vision Company. Sam himself was a patient with pigmented retinitis, and lost confidence in public research in this area, so he decided to develop his own artificial retinal device that could be commercialized. Sam died in 2009 and didn't have time to wait until the day he achieved his goals. But his legacy will benefit many people. [5]
- In April 2011, the Research Center for Biological Development of the Japan Institute of Physics and Chemistry in Kobe announced some research results. Scientists at the center are using stem cells to grow "artificial retinas" and have made breakthroughs that could turn "artificial eye transplants" into reality, bringing light to millions of blind patients. This research result is therefore called a "stunning achievement" by the scientific community.
- The researchers used "blank" embryonic stem cells (which can be cultured in any cell in an adult) as the starting material for culturing an "artificial retina". They first collected several cells from the skin of the patient's arm, and then added proteins around the stem cells. And vitamins to induce stem cells to grow into the cells needed by the patient's retina. After the stem cells have matured, they can be extracted and transplanted into the patient's retina. Since the stem cells cultured in this way can be completely integrated into the patient's retina, it can repair the damage on the retina through its own growth. This improves or restores the patient's vision. [1] [4]
- Dutch lawmakers will rule on a company's application to promote the device in the EU market. If approved, this will be the first artificial retina to be marketed. However, doctors said that this technique is only suitable for patients who are blinded by retinitispigmentosa (RP) because they can see things before and have healthy retinal cells and optic nerves. [10]
- Researchers implant artificial retinas in the retinas of patients with retinal pigment degeneration to allow them to sense light and distinguish objects. The instrument, called the "Args II" artificial retina system, will provide better vision than the first generation. There are 60 photosensitive electrodes, far more than the previous 16.
- The inventor of the artificial retina, Dr. Mark Homon, had predicted that artificial retinas would make more progress in five years, with the number of electrodes reaching 1,000, which would allow blind people to discern objects thoroughly.
- In November 2014, an international team of researchers from Tel Aviv University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the University of Newcastle, UK, developed a thin film containing carbon nanotubes and nanorods that is expected to serve as a wireless Implantation of the device has an excellent effect on retinal light stimulation. [11]