Another bionic eye
The Phoenix99 bionic eye is an implantable system designed to restore objective vision in patients with degenerative retinal diseases. The device consists of two main components that need to be implanted: a stimulator attached to the eye and a communication module located under the skin behind the ear.
Researchers from the University of Sydney used a sheep as an animal model to observe how the body reacts to the implanted device, as well as to clarify the details of the surgical procedure. The authors are confident that the device can now be tested on humans, and plan to submit an application to the ethics committee for approval of clinical trials.
Phoenix99 stimulates the retina, the thin inner shell of the eye containing light–sensitive receptors. In a healthy eye, one of the ten layers of the retina converts incoming light into electrical impulses that are sent to the brain. In retinitis pigmentosa and other degenerative diseases of the retina, the photoreceptor layer ceases to function, leading to vision loss. The Phoenix99 system bypasses these faulty cells by directly stimulating the remaining intact ones, effectively "deceiving" the brain and making it believe that the light was perceived.
It is important to note that the device had a very weak effect on neurons. There were no adverse reactions from the tissues around the device, which makes it possible to hope that it can safely remain in place for many years.
How the bionic eye works
The patient is implanted with Phoenix99, the stimulator is located on the eye, and the communication module is behind the ear. A mini camera attached to the glasses captures visual information. The image is processed as a set of stimulation instructions. Instructions are transmitted wirelessly through the skin to the communication module of the prosthesis located behind the ear. The implant decodes the signal and transmits instructions to the stimulation module located on the eye, which delivers electrical impulses to the retinal neurons, which send them to the brain, where the signals are interpreted as the perception of a visual picture.
Article by S.C.Eggenberger et al. Implantation and long-term assessment of the stability and biocompatibility of a novel 98 channel suprachoroidal visual prosthesis in sheep is published in the journal Biomaterials.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru Based on the materials of the University of Sydney: Bionic eye study paves the way towards human trials.