How Does a "Bionic Eye" Allow Blind People to See?
By Layton, Julia; HowStuffWorks,Publication Date: February 2007
Article focuses on the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, which can be used to provide sight for people with degenerative eye conditions such as macular degeneration and retinisis pigmentosa. The system consists of five main components, the first of which is a digital camera that is build into a pair of glasses. The camera captures images in real time, and sends then to a microchip. A video-processing microchip is build into a handheld unit, as the microchip processes images into electric pulses that represent patterns of light and dark. These pulses are sent to a radio transmitter in a pair of glasses. The transmitter wirelessly transmits pulses to a receiver implanted above the ear or under the eye. A radio receiver sends pulses to the retinal implant via a hair-thin, implanted wire. The system runs on a batter pack that is housed with the video processing unit. A detailed description of how the system captures images and allows the user to see them is provided.
Published by: Convex Group (Website:www.convexgroup.com)
Link to text: http://health.howstuffworks.com/bionic-eye.htm
