Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Electric Eye

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=retinitis-pigmentosa-retina-implant-tech

Check out this link about an Electric Eye: Retina Implant.

What do you think about this?

23 comments:

  1. It is amazing to me that they can stimulate nerves again in the retna (From the retnas photo receptors dying) because i was un aware that the retna can be re-stimulated by a chip. I wonder if the chip can be felt in the patients eye, and if the chip can ultimately malfunction and cause permanent damage. I also wonder why lasic vision surgery would not work for this type of disease and why they need to put a chip in the eye.

    ReplyDelete
  2. From this article, I learned that 1.5 million people are affected by a disease called retinitis pigmentosa which kills their photoreceptors causing blindness. Currently, researchers are investigating the possibility of curing this disease with retinal implants. As a result, people are experiencing a slight field of vision return, and research is continuing on the possibility of curing this disease.

    ReplyDelete
  3. In this article I learned a couple things, one of which being that around 1.5 million people are affected by retinitis pigmentoas which is about 1:4,000 in the U.S. Researchers are able to to, in simple terms insert a chip into your eye that causes the cones and rods to detect light where other wise they couldn't. At first I thought that this was similar to lasik where doctors can make one's eye sight better, but instead we are now able to make the completely blind be able to sense light. I feel like this is an amazing discovery and looks very promising. Joe Stork P 5

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sruthi Yeturu Per/5
    After reading the article on electric eye implants, I learned that there are many new inventions created to make the lives of blind patients better. We did not have these types of treatments before. One invention is the 3x3 millimeter microelectric chip that is placed in the retina. It allows signals to be sent to the brain. These signals are usually not functioning in patients diagnosed with the rare but deadly disease called retinitis pigmentosa which affects one in 4,000 people in the US, and affects 1.5 million people through out the world. There is no treatment fot this condition. Another invention is the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis which is a small device put in a pair of glasses that are then eventually worn by patients. The drawback with these is that they need an external source of energy and patients should be able to distinguish between pictures. I think its fascinating that scientists around the world are discovering such products for patients. The release of these products do take many years but there is always time for improvement. Hopefully, future patients will benefit from the trial and error mistakes we make now.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hannah Safari Per. 6

    I thought it was really interesting that they have actually come up with technology and treatments that go into a chip that is inserted into the retina in order to allow the cones and rods to detect light when really they're actually not supposed to be working. This chip stimulates the intact nerve cells in the retina causing the eye to gain back partial vision. The people who get this treatment can in turn locate light sources such as windows or lamps and also detect light objects that are placed against dark backgrounds. Even though its not allowing the patients to gain back full vision yet, I still think that this is a great discovery because it at least gives blind people a chance to see something other that black for the rest of their life.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sarah Barton
    The is new technology that could help people with a hereditary retina damaging disease to be able to stimulate the cones and rods in the eye. A chip is placed into the retina and helps to detect the light by stimulating the never cell. They are not completely cured, but can find light sources, which could be a major advantage. Although they are not completely cured, it does help the people and shows the advances in technology.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Allie Burgess, period 6

    I found that this article was very interesting. I learned that even if people are blinded by the often hereditary disease of retitis pigmentosa, they can get a retina implant in order to allow them to see. This disease affects around 1 in every 4,000 people, and 1.5 million people world wide. It kills the retinas photoreceptors that transmit sight to the brain. Retina Implant AG got permission to do retina implants. They implant a 3 millimeter electromagnetic chip that contains around 1,500 photoreceptors that is inserted behind the fovea. The fovea enables the clarity of vision. By doing this, people regain their sight. Their sight is limited, and many claim that they can only see a clear circle of view that is limited by blackness. Although patients may not be able to see perfectly, I think it is amazing that they have the opportunity to see at all. They should definitely continue this research in order to help both the United States, and the World by providing vision, even if it is partial vision, to those who would never have thought they could see.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kathryn Akins

    It is amazing to me that there are implants and surgeries to fix many types of diseases. This retina disease affects 1.5 million peolpe worldwide, but now scientists are figuring out ways to overcome this. They are researching surgeries to stimulate the still active nerves and tissues by implanting a three millimeter chip with 1500 light phototides into the retina. Although this chip does not give the blind sight, they are able to recognize light and dark if the chip sucessfully connects to the brain. Even more amazing technology is to come for the future in retina transplats.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I was amazed at just how advanced our technology has become for treating blind patients! I learned that a 3X3 millimeter microelectric chip is inserted into the retina to detect light when they are not supposed to be working. I also learned that the microelectric chip allows for signals to be relayed to the brain. For people with the untreatable disease, retinitis pigmentosa, these signals do not usually function. However, the chip stimulates the intact nerve cells, which then allows the person to get back partial vision. Although the chip only gains partial vision to the patient, it is still a great invention that gives blind people to at least detect and tell the difference between light and dark. Hopefully, the chip will advance even further to allow the blind to gain full vision someday.

    - Chantel Oah
    Period 6

    ReplyDelete
  10. Cole Watson p.6

    It is really cool to see how Science and technology have become hand in hand to give us a better understanding of our bodies and how we function. It is amazing that we can insert a chip into someones eye and that chip can make them see. Even though they can't see much, it's much better than before and before we know it we'll be able to make someone be able to fully see with color and everything. One day no one will be blind... and that's pretty cool.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wes Moon -- Period 6

    I found this article to not only be shocking, but also inspirational. The idea that a disease that affects so many people, and has for so long, can one day be corrected, can only be recieved with a sense of pride in our scientists and how far humankind has come with technological use within medicine. Obviously, with only light sources being detected, the technology has a ways to go before completely restoring anyone's vision, but the fact remains that scientists are on thier way to correcting an issue even as small as a few cones and rods inside the retina of a human eye, a fact that should inspire anyone and everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  12. It is fascinating at what technology is able to accomplish when designed with the human body in mind. Even though the eyes are very complex in nature, a microchip is able to aid in restoring a persons vision. Even though medicine has always been primarily concerned with chemistry and biology, it is amazing that technological innovation may just be as important to treatment in the future. Though the technology is primitive so far, it is a good stepping stone to future more remarkable works.

    Lee Huynh

    ReplyDelete
  13. Chloe Leuthaeuser | Period 5
    After reading this article, I learned that although there isn’t a cure for being blind, there are implants and solutions that can help. The way the implants work is by stimulating the nerve endings in the retina that are still active. Photodiodes, amplifiers and electrodes are surgically inserted into an area in the eye that contains the cone cells of the retina. This doesn’t restore complete vision, but some people who have undergone this surgery have reported to have partial vision restored. Scientists are continually working to find more ways to try and restore more and more vision to those who suffer with retinitis pigmentosa. Eberhart Zrenner has a vision of implanting 3 micro chips under the retina, rather than just one. There are still many advancements to be made, such as programming the eye to see things like color. But these new improvements and technologies can sometimes run into trouble becoming FDA approved, like the sub-retinal implants that were mentioned in the article. Although we may be having trouble here, places like Europe are having more luck with an invention they call the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System. This article taught me that there is great potential that in the current research that is being done to try and find an aid to blindness in some people.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Shelby Bank
    Period 5
    After reading this article I find the science they are conducting on the disease retinitis pigmentosa truly astonishing. This disease causes millions of people in the world to become blind,but through a retina implant these scientists are able to give many people the gift of sight, which is a huge stride and an amazing accomplishment. For those born with this disease being able to see is something many of them thought never possible, but through this implant scientist are making dreams come true through the "window of the world" they have created. However,there is more that can be done and added to make these implants even more successful. Right now they give patients a view of the world in black and white, to give them color would be a wonderful stride.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Julia Jonaitis period 3
    This article gives tons of information on the electric eye and its advanced technology. Even with a very complex assortment of nerves in the eye, they are able to almost mimick a way to send signals to the optic nerve and visual cortex by just sending electrical signals. Although this is brilliant technology it also seems like a a risky thing to do, after putting the tiny implant into your eye and cutting into it, the pain would have to significantly be worth seeing a black and white world for. I think its very cool technology but something that could require even more research to make it better.

    ReplyDelete
  16. From this article, I learned that 1.5 million people are affected by a disease called retinitis pigmentosa which kills their photoreceptors causing blindness. Currently, researchers are investigating the possibility of curing this disease with retinal implants. As a result, people are experiencing a slight field of vision return, and research is continuing on the possibility of curing this disease.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ann Albright, Period 5
    The treatment for retinitis pigmentosa has been non-exisitant until recently. The unfortunate people who have this disease have slowly lost their sight, thanks to damage in their photoreceptors. It talks about a tiny chip that can be inserted into the back thin skin of the eye, which transmits signals, almost as if they are photoreceptors themselves. It sounds wonderful, but the results have only been vague awareness of light sources. This small window is a miracle in itself, but it isn't enough. The research they are still spearheading will let patients see in full color, as well as have full vision. We will see what the future has in store and perhaps blindness will become a thing of the past.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Haley Salzwedel ~ Period 6
    First of all, I am amazed at how much science and technology, especially in the field of medicine , has progressed and how effective current medical advancements have become. Prior to reading this article I didn't know that retina implants for people with the hereditary, debilitating disease Retinitis Pigmentosa were even possible. But thanks to intensive research and a broader understanding about nerve cells, ocular anatomy and cell signaling, this innovative Retina Implant has thus seen great success in clinical trials in Europe, and will hopefully be approved by the FDA for use in trials in America. What I find most fascinating is the actual procedure and implant itself, and how they have a physical effect on an individual's sight. The implant is a 3mm by 3mm microelectronic chip that contains up to 1,500 amplifiers, photodiodes and electrodes. Combined, these components help stimulate healthy, in tact nerve cells within the retina. The nerve impulses generated from these cells travel along the optic nerve all the way to the visual cortex of the brain, where they are interpreted as images. This chip is placed beneath the retina's macular region, where most of the eye's cone cells are located (help see images but not colors). The science is still new but those who have had the procedure done have reported increased clarity of vision and the ability to distinguish objects. Great strides in the field of medicine if you ask me. One drawback of this procedure is that it does not restore the ability to see color. Maybe once this procedure has been perfected scientists can refocus their efforts on developing an implant for people who have gone colorblind, and place a similar chip in the area of the eye containing a majority of the rod cells.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Scott Podlogar p-3

    Retinitis pigmentosa is a disease that causes blindness and about 1.5 million people in world have it. When a person has retinitis pigmentosa, their cones and rods in their eyes don't work preventing electric signals to travel up the optic nerve to the brian. Luckily, there has been some new developement for the treatment for retinitis pigmentosa. The treatment involves a chip that can be inserted into the back of the eye, which can then transmits signals, as if they are photoreceptors themselves. It is quite amazing that technology has come so far has to replace a person's ability to see. However, the chip isn't perfect yet, the results have only been vague awareness of light sources and only a narrow field of vision. Scientists and engineers are still research and working to make the chip allow the patients see in full color, as well as have full vision.

    ReplyDelete
  20. After reading the article I was filled with an array of emotions. First, I found the article very interesting, but it also left me very concerned, confused, and hopeful. The fact that the practice is not fully FDA approved and Americans have been going to Europe to seek the surgery concerns me about the safety and risk of the implant. I also do not fully understand what it is capable of other than being able to see light (which is better than nothing I guess?). However, I am very happy to see that we are making great strides to restoring sight because that is a privilege that no one should be deprived of. I just hope they find a safer and more efficient alternative.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Chris Fitzgerald Pd. 5

    This article is inspiring because it shows how science and technology are advancing so fast that we're starting to find cures for many things people would have never even dreamed of 100 years ago. Though this will only fix this one cause of blindness it shows promise that maybe one day they will fix other causes of blindness. The technology required to complete this task must have been monumental and this is just one of many good highlights of the advancing science community.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Kevin O'Connor P.5

    This article stimulates many topics of discussion. First off, it brings to light a disease known as retinitis pigmentosa, one which affects millions, but is relatively untouched by the media. Secondly it touches on the barriers political borders present to stunning advancements in technology. These barriers only hinder the advancement of helpful treatments. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, it explains that the implant works by simulating intact nerve cells in the retina. A simulation of nerve cells/nerve impulses has endless applications in many areas of the body. What if scientists implanted a chip simulating tastes and smells on the tongue and in the nose making anything taste like a gourmet meal? That only grazes the surface of useful and worth-while applications.

    ReplyDelete