A PAPER PRESENTATION

ON
BIONIC EYE

BY,

S.BALASUBRAMANIAN
III YR E.C.E
VELAMMAL ENGINEERING COLLEGE
EMAIL ID:balu1904@gmail.com
ABSTRACT to remove the blindness completely by
Here, we present a description of a block making the advances in the present
scheme, specific features of design research
and results of testing for a prototype of a and improving manufacturing
bionic eye, types of them and its technologies. This break through is likely
applications. The bionic eye is intended to to benefit
provide vision, partially to the visually approximately one crore world population
impaired by use of the modern day who suffer from the most common causes
electronics devices like CCD cameras. of blindness, Retinitis Pigmentosa,
The Macular Degeneration. The implant
comprises a computer chip that sits in the bypasses the
back of the individual's eye, linked up to a diseased cells in the retina and stimulates
mini video camera built into glasses that the remaining viable cells. This is a
they wear. Images captured by the camera revolutionary piece of technology and
are beamed to the chip, which translates really has the potential to change people's
them into impulses that the brain can lives. But we need to be aware it is still
interpret. Although the images produced some way in the future.
by the artificial eye were far from perfect,
they could be clear enough to allow
someone who is otherwise blind to
recognize
faces. The paper discusses the differences INTRODUCTION
working methodologies used in each of A Bionic Eye is a device, which acts as an
them. During the tests and the clinical artificial eye. It is a broad term for the
trails, this device made six blind people to entire electronics system consisting of the
regain their vision partially. The potential image sensors, processors, radio
advantage of using bionic eye is to be able transmitters &
receivers, and the retinal chip. Based on
the institute developed these devices are
developed but with minor to major the inner retina with visual signals, one
differences, of these the devices with might be able to restore some degree of
functional sight.
capability and those which are clinically Need for the BIONIC EYE:
tested and results proved are discussed It has been shown that electric stimulation
here. of retinal neurons can produce
Here the designer’s objective is to go for a perception of light in patients suffering
system that is technically perfect with no from retinal degeneration. Using this
loop property the
holes and that is harmless to the human eye and make uses of the functional cells
body which receives the system and that is to retain the vision with the help of
commercially viable both in terms of ease electronic
of manufacture, cost and the process of devices that assist this cells in performing
implanting. the task of vision, we can make these
Blindness means loss of vision. Rods and lakhs of
Cones, millions of them are in the back people get back their vision at least
of every healthy human eye. They are partially. A design of an optoelectronic
biological solar cells in the retina that retinal
convert light prosthesis system that can stimulate the
to electrical impulses -- impulses that retina with resolution corresponding to a
travel along the optic nerve to the brain visual
where acuity of 20/80—sharp enough to orient
images are formed. Without them, eyes yourself toward objects, recognize faces,
lose the capacity to see, and are declared read
blind. large fonts, watch TV and, perhaps most
Degenerative retinal diseases result in important, lead an independent life. The
death of photoreceptors--rod-shaped cells researchers hope their device may
at the someday bring artificial vision to those
retina's periphery responsible for night blind due to
vision and cone-shaped cells at its center retinal degeneration.
responsible for color vision. Worldwide, BIONIC EYE DEFINED:
1.5 million people suffer from retinitis Bionic Eye, Bio Electronic eye, is a device
pigmentosa (RP), the leading cause of that can provide sight -- the
inherited blindness. In the Western world, detection of light. It replaces the
agerelated functionality of a part or whole of eye. it is
macular degeneration (AMD) is the major used to
cause of vision loss in people over age replace functionality as well as add
65, and the issue is becoming more critical functionality. It is a complex combination
as the population ages. Each year, 700,000 of
people are diagnosed with AMD, with 10 multiple devices which work together for
percent becoming legally blind, defined by restoration of the vision of the subject
20/400 vision. Many AMD patients retain The Diseases that cause blindness:
some degree of peripheral vision.  Retinitis Pigmentosa
Currently, there is no effective treatment  Macular Degeneration
for most patients with AMD and RP, the Of these, retinitis pigmentosa is a
researchers say . However, if one could disease, which is a hereditary genetic
bypass the photoreceptors and directly disease in which
stimulate
peripheral rods degenerate gradually  CCD camera input – External light
progresses towards center of eye and intensity
results in  CCD output amplitude-modulates
tunnel vision. laser source
As for macular degeneration, it is also  This hits photodiode array of
genetically related , it degenerates cones in implant
macula region, causing damage to central  This in turn powers stimulator chip
vision but spares peripheral retina. (SC)
System 2:
MIT- HARVARD DEVICE:  SC drives current to electrodes
facing retina
 This excites the ganglionic cells >
axons >
optic nerve > visual cortex in occipital
lobe of brain
 Brain helps in perceiving an image

This device follows an Epi-Retinal

Approach. In this Microelectrode array
replaces damaged photoreceptors,
which act in the place of rods and
cones
to send the signals to optic nerve. The
power source – Laser(820nm
wavelength). For image acquisition it
uses a CCD Camera. Patient Advantages:
spectacle  Very Early in the visual pathway
holds the camera and power source.  No Batteries implanted within body
It consists of two systems, system-1  No complicated surgical procedure
which senses and transmits image  Power Requirement – ¼ of milliwatt
and
power and other system which Disadvantages
stimulates the cells, there by making  Axons b/w electrodes and
brain ganglionic cells
vSiyssutaelimze1t:he image.
 Other axons get excited – Neo devices
unwanted perception of large blur The current micro photodiode array
 Extra circuitry required for (MPA) is comprised of a regular
downstream electrical input array of individual photodiode
subunits, each approximately 20×20-
μm
square and separated by 10-μm
Artificial Retina Prosthesis
channel stops (37). The resulting
using ASR (Artificial Silicon micro
Retina) photodiode
ASR is a solid state biocompatible density is approximately 1,100/m2.
chip which contains an array of IMPLANT features
photo receptors, and is implanted to The size of implant is 50um. And it needs
replace the functionality of the no external power supply. The response
defective 500nm
photoreceptors .Current generated by to 1100nm wavelength response
the device in response to light
stimulation will alter the membrane
potential of the overlying neurons and Working:
thereby activate Visual For the technique to work, the patient
sensationsthoerv“iPsuhaolsspyhseten must still have some functioning ganglion
mes.” can be evoked by electrical cells - nerve cells that transmit visual
stimulation of information from the retinal cells to the
the different levels of the visual optic nerve
pathway. Phosphenes are evoked by - as well as a fully-functioning optic
the nerve. A tiny electronic pad is placed onto
stimulation of the eyeball or the visual the retina
cortex. Artificial vision created by the of one eye, so that the electrodes are in
controlled electric stimulation of the direct contact with the ganglion cells.
retina has color. Each of the
devices' 100 electrodes can stimulate 20 to
 Epiretinal Approach involves a 30 cells.
semiconductor based device
positioned
on the surface of the retina to try to
simulate the remaining overlying cells
Real-time vision:
 oSfutbhreerteintianlaA. pproach The user wears a pair of glasses that
involves implanting the ASR chip contain a miniature camera and that
behind the retina wirelessly transmits video to a
to simulate the remaining viable cells. cellphone-sized computer in the
wearer's pocket.
This computer processes the image
information and wirelessly transmits it
to a
IMPLANT DESIGN: tiny electronic receiver implanted in
Primitive devices the wearer's head.
Single photosensitive pixel(3mm in
diameter)
 MANUFACTURING PROCESS:
Implants are comprised of a doped and
ion-implanted silicon substrate disk to
produce a PiN (positive-intrinsic-negative)
junction. Fabrication begins with a 7.6-cm
diameter semiconductor grade N-type
silicon wafer.
For the MPA device, a photomask is used
to ion-implant shallow P+ doped
wells into the front surface of the wafer,
separated by channel stops in a pattern of
individual micro photodiodes. An intrinsic
layer automatically forms at the boundary
between the P+-doped wells and the N-
type substrate of the wafer. The back of
the wafer
is then ion-implanted to produce a N+
surface. Thereafter, an insulating layer of
silicon
nitrate is deposited on the front of the
wafer, covering the entire surface except
for the
When received in the implanted chip, the well openings. A thin adhesion layer, of
digital information is transformed into chromium or titanium, is then deposited
electrical over the
impulses sent into the ganglion cells. From P+ and N+ layers. A transparent electrode
there, the brain takes over as the layer of gold, iridium/iridium oxide, or
information platinum, is deposited on the front well
travels down the optic nerve to the visual side, and on the background side. In its
cortex at the back of the brain. The whole simplest
process occurs extremely rapidly, so that form, the photodiode and electrode layers
patients see in real-time. This is important are the same size. However, increasing the
any photodiode collector to electrode area ratio
noticeable lag could stimulate the can increase the current density available
"vestibular-ocular reflex", making people at
feel dizzy each individual micro photodiode subunit.
and sick. Post Implant function and Inference
Currently recipients of the device Measurement procedure
experience a relatively narrow view, but  IR stimulation at 940nm on the ASR
more  Recorded at the corneal surface using
electrodes should provide a greater field of contact lens electrode
vision. By stimulating more ganglion  Comparison of responses of gold,
cells, he platinum and iridium electrodes
hopes that visual acuity will increase  Iridium based device has a longer
dramatically. His team's next goal is to persistence
design a  Stability of these electrodes
device with 1000 electrodes.
 The sensing of the light is done using
the sensor shown in the above figure.

HE MARC SYSTEM BLOCK:

Outside Eye:
BIO-COMPATIBILTY RESULTS: The video input to the marc system
There is no progressive change in retinal block is given through a CCD camera.
appearance that may be associated with This image is further processed using
retinal toxicity. But there is loss of a PDA sized image processor & to
photoreceptive layer over the region of transmit
implant, it , we do pulse width modulation in
which is expected due to deprival of first stage and then ASK modulation is
oxygen and nutrients to those cells done.
underlying This signal is further amplified using a
the chip. class E power amplifier and
transmitted
Multiple Unit Artificial Retina Chipset using RF telemetry coils.
(MARC):
The other revolutionary bio electronic eye Inside Eye:
is the MARC , this uses a ccd camera The signal received from the RF
input telemetry coils is power recovered and
and a laser beam or rf to transmit the then
image into the chip present in the retina these signal is ASK demodulated and
.using this a the data and clock is recovered from
resolution of 100 pixels is achieved by this
using a 10x10 array. signals and these signal are sent to
It consists of a platinum or rubber silicon the configuration and control block of
electrode array placed inside the eye to the
stimulate the cells. 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

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
Block Diagram Of Image
transmitted RF energy and give it to
Acquisition System:
the MARC
The image acquisition system consists of a
chip. The AC wires from this coil is
CMOS digital camera which acquires
sent to the MARC chip. This chip is
images
hermetically sealed in silicone gel and
and sends it to the Analog to Digital
the other sides of the chips have the
Converter. It converts this analog input to
electrodes, which stimulate the cells in
digital
eye
data. This data is first sent into a video
buffer where it is processed, the images
are color
mapped and this processed images are sent
through RS232 interface. this serial data is
then sent to the electrodes or testing
monitor through a RF circuit or laser
beam.

Advantage of the Marc system:

• Compact Size – 6x6 mm
• Diagnostic Capability
• Reduction of stress upon retina
Conclusion: Workshop, June 2-3 Philadelphia, PA,
Researchers throughout the world have 2005.
looked for ways to improve people's lives http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~control/medic
with artificial, bionic devices. Its been 40 al/pubs/HCMDSS05.pdf
years since Arne Larsson received the first Nicolas Chevrollier, Nada Golmie, "On
fully the Use of Wireless Network
implanted cardiac pacemaker. Researchers Technologies in Healthcare
throughout the world have looked for Environments", July 2005, White Paper -
ways to U.S Department of
improve people's lives with artificial, Commerce
bionic devices. Bionic devices are being http://w3.antd.nist.gov/pubs/aswn05.pdf
developed
to do more than replace defective parts.
Researchers are also using them to fight
illnesses.
Providing power to run bionic implants
and making connections to the brain's
control
system pose the two great challenges for
biomedical engineering. But what ever be
the
pro and cons of this system. If this system
is fully developed it will change the lives
of
millions of people around the world. We
may not restore the vision fully, but we
can help
them to least be able to find their way,
recognize faces, read books, above all lead
an
independent life.

REFERENCES:
Victor Shnayder, Bor-rong Chen, Konrad
Lorincz, Thaddeus R. F. Fulford-
Jones, and Matt Welsh. "Sensor Networks
for Medical Care", Harvard University
Technical Report TR-08-05, April 2005
http://www.eecs.harvard.edu/~brchen/pap
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J. A. Stankovic, Q. Cao, T. Doan, L. Fang,
Z. He, R. Kiran, S. Lin, S. Son,
R. Stoleru, A. Wood, "Wireless Sensor
Networks for In-Home Healthcare:
Potential and
Challenges", in High Confidence Medical
Device Software and Systems (HCMDSS)