Argus II Artificial Retina Will Restore Partial Sight To The Blind
Researchers from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed a bionic eye, also named the Argus II artificial retina, to restore partial sight to the blind. The device has been recently approved by the FDA to help people suffering from retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary disease causing degradation of retinal function. It will reportedly give the visually impaired limited, low-resolution visual perception. The system includes a sunglasses-like visor with a video camera that records the wearer’s field of vision; a belt-worn processor converts the video into electrical signals that are wirelessly transmitted to the implant embedded within functional retinal tissue of the eye. Researchers hope, that the Argus II will designate a new era of medical visual prosthetics and the eventual adoption of elective cybernetics. The price of the device in the US is unknown yet, though it retails for $100,000 in Europe, where it had been approved in 2011.
Via:singularityhub.com
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