Form-Fitting Photovoltaic Artificial Retina

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Form-Fitting Photovoltaic Artificial Retina

• By Andrew Seitler

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What is the Goal?

• Practical retinal prosthesis for people afflicted
  with progressive loss of photoreceptor cells.
• Retinal chip implanted on the back of eye
• Create a simple yet effective form of power

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Multiple Approaches

• University of Southern Californias Doheny Eye
  Institute is using RF signals to transmit both
  data and power to the retinal implant.
• Stanford University is using ambient light
  entering the eye for both data and power.
• For 2 years a 60-pixel retina has been used in
  clinical trials known as the Argus II.

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Retinal Migration

• Stanford Ophthalmology department recently
  discovered migration of retinal cells.
• Sub-retinal implant preserves axonal connections
  to the retina above the implant.

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Optoelectronic System Design

• Uses goggle mounted camera
• Transmits from goggles using pulsed IR
• Photodiodes convert pulses of light into pulsed
  current from intraocular photovoltaic

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Similar Research

• University of Southern Californias Biomimetric
  MicroElectronic Systems Engineering Research
  Center boasts a 1000-pixel test system.
• Expecting nearly 5 years before clinical trials
• More progressively they want to fit everything
  entirely into the eye.

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Future goals

• Entirely implantable device
• Miniature camera system
• Use light we already see with to power and give
  detail to newer more effective systems.
• Use carbon nanotubes for designs
• Increase safety for long term implants
• Drastically decrease need to power circuit

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References

• http//spectrum.ieee.org/biomedical/bionics/a-form
  fitting-photovoltaic-artificial-retina
• http//ophthalmology.stanford.edu/research/basic_r
  etinal_prosthesis.html
• http//spectrum.ieee.org/biomedical/bionics/resear
  chers-hope-to-mime-1000-neurons-with-highres-artif
  icial-retina