A group of researchers has developed a vision implant with electrodes as small as a neuron that aims to restore sight to the blind.
Vision Implants
Vision implants transmit signals to the brain via electrodes. Simulating visual information in the same way that pixels form an image.
By shrinking these electrodes to microscopic size, researchers were able to fit more of them into a single implant.
As a result, brain stimulation improves, providing the user with a clearer and more detailed visual representation, according to the researchers.
Image’s clarity is critical, as visuals formed by brain signals lack the clarity that a person with normal vision experiences.
The implant is made up of a unique combination of materials that are designed to resist corrosion. This includes a conducting polymer that not only transmits signals but also acts as protective layer for the metal.
project’s Leader
The research team notes that this material combination is critical to the implant’s durability and effectiveness.
Maria Asplund, the project’s leader and co-author of the study, said:
We now know that electrodes as small as a neuron can be made and kept functional in the brain for extended periods of time. The next step is to design an implant with connections for thousands of electrodes.
Early preclinical trials have produced encouraging results. Initial mouse experiments show that the implant can successfully stimulate visual perception while consuming minimal electrical power.
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