UPDATE 7/8/09
Professor John Marshall, a senior ophthalmologist at King’s College, London, has developed a short pulse laser technique which can delay the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of sight loss in Britain.
About 200,000 people in the UK are currently registered as blind or partially sighted because of AMD, which damages the part of the retina responsible for precise vision.
Professor Marshall, who pioneered laser eye surgery to cure short-sightedness, said the “retinal rejuvenation” treatment could delay the effect of ageing without damaging any other cells.
The technique works by stimulating enzymes to remove waste material from a thin membrane behind the retina, called Bruch’s membrane. Improvements to sight were reported after the treatment was used in a clinical trial involving more than 100 diabetics.
“The treatment is really treating ageing,” Professor Marshall said.
Source: Times Newspapers Ltd.
______
Birge, won the 2009 Connecticut Medal of Science
Birge, 63, also launched a start-up company that will eventually manufacture an artificial retinal implant for humans. The company will start on campus, then eventually move to its own offices, likely near a hospital in Connecticut, he said. Birge’s research involves using biological molecules to make electronic components. Specifically he uses a protein from an archaea, an ancient saltwater organism. The protein, remarkably similar to the protein found in the back of the eye, can convert light into energy.
Latest on the implantable Bionic Eye at
Medgadget
an independent on-line journal covering the latest medical gadgets and technologies, discoveries in medical science, and the progress of the digital revolution in the healthcare industry. Our site is written, edited and published by a group of MDs and biomed engineers and is targeted towards doctors, nurses, administrators, and medical device developers.
Predicted is a Bionic Eye by 2020
Image Source: National Geographic Society
Abstract
“A visual prosthesis is an artificial organ to restore the sight of blind patients with electrical stimulation to the visual nervous system. Dr. Yagi has been conducting two types of the visual prosthesis; a biohybird implant and a retinal implant.
In academia, Dr. Yagi’s group has been conducting basic research and system design/integration on a biohybird retinal implant, which consists of cultured neurons on MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems). Axons of the neurons will be guided with an axon-guiding material such as a peripheral nerve graft, or a tube, which is filled with the Schwann cells and the extra cellular matrix. Therefore, the transplanted neurons will be used as living electric wires in order to connect the MEMS and the central nervous system. Since the hybrid retinal implant requires neither the retinal ganglion cells nor the optic nerve, it will be more applicable to blind diseases where the retinal ganglion cells and/or the optic nerve are NOT intact.”
Source: Visual Prosthesis
(Retinal Implant & Biohybrid Retinal Implant)
Tokyo Institute of Technology Shimizu and Yagi Laboratory
_______________________________________
Source: Professor Nigel Lovell
“A working bionic eye could be an Australian world first by 2020 if action is taken quickly, leading researchers at the University of New South Wales say.
The bionic eye was identified as a key health goal for Australia at the 2020 Summit, held in Canberra on April 19-20, and Professor Nigel Lovell, from the UNSW Australian Vision Prosthesis Group (AVPG), said a functional device can be a reality within 12 years with a concerted national effort.
“There are already some overseas trials of rudimentary bionic eye devices but we have certain designs which are more advanced,” said Professor Lovell.
“We need to act now if we want to take advantage of our technical edge”…
“This isn’t going to cost anything like a space program,” Associate Professor Suaning said. “We can get it done here in Australia with local funding – we are talking millions, not billions.”
Read the full article:
“Australian bionic eye can be reality by 2020″
Media contacts:
Professor Nigel Lovell, UNSW Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Australian Vision Prosthesis Group: 02 9385 3922
Associate Professor Gregg Suaning, UNSW Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Australian Vision Prosthesis Group: 02 9385 3892UNSW Media Office: Peter Trute 02 9385 1933, 0410 271 826, p.trute@unsw.edu.au
Discover this field by accessing the Wiki Info Connect link we have provided.
I found this information very interesting and I am looking forward to more posts!
I am blind in my right eye due to military service. I am very interested in your future progress. Please feel free to email me any future updates, thank you.
Please send verification that you recieved my email.
loewenthal@ymail.com
http://www.unsw.edu.au/news/pad/articles/2008/apr/Bionic_Eye_V2.html
There’s no retirement for an artist, it’s your way of living so there’s no end to it. – Henry Moore
@Markus I get your drift on where you were going there. I often think of my past and use it as a means to analyze where I am and where I want to get to. Where I struggel is balancing it all out. How do you guys balance things out?
hey do you have any other blogs like this one? im doing a page for my college and I need a few links to place on our fraternity webblog. Would it be fine if we backlink to this domain from the school site for reference purposes?
Hiya , I’ve a great way to make a lot of money online posting blogs. I presume this is mainly for the website admin but there are probably lots more bloggers reading this. I have made thousands using the techniques explained in the product and its only been two months. It basically generates content for you automatically and then on top of that posts it to free websites to gain you traffic. Check out their short video. Auto Blog Samurai
Interest rates alter from week to week as a result always check using your lender regarding the top deals they already have
I have been trying to find the google for this info and i wanted to say thanks to you for this post. By the way, just off topic, how can i get a version of this theme? – Thanks
What a concept !
hmm.. Very thorough post. I have found myself directed here before from aol search and undoubtedly will find myself here again. I just thought I’d take a minute out of my day to express. As a website owner myself I know that is is nice to get some feedback on your works sometimes. Anyway, I’m sure I’ll end
Nice post. Wish you add a couple of videos or reference links to other posts like this. It will be useful to more readers.
Wow! This article is really good! – I learn something new everyday! Thank you! If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk about this post on my blog. I will link back to this post. Thank you!
Great post. Would be great you add some videos or reference links to more posts like this. It will be useful to other readers.
Cool post. I’d wish you add a few videos or reference links to other posts similar to this. It will be useful to more readers.
It’s Monday and I was just browsing the web on my new iPad and found your website. Skipping work today to end a 3 day weekend Your blog seems to show up great on a mobile device so whatever you have done in your web design is working. A really usefull post – A big thank you I hope you will not mind me blogging about this article on my website Did you see the destruction the storms did in NC? The pictures on the web are unbelievable. I will also link back to this post Thanks
It’s Monday and I was just surfing the web on my new iPhone and found your site. I am just at Starbucks, I love my coffee. I have decided to skip work today – 3 day weekend for me! Your blog seems to look great on a mobile device so whatever you have done in your design is working. A very usefull post – A big thank you I hope you will not mind me blogging about this article on my website Did you see the destruction the storms did in NC? The pictures on the web are unbelievable. I will also link back to this post Thank you
Delightful!
Cool post. I’d wish you add a few videos or reference links to extra posts just like this. It will help to other readers.
This is DOPE! Inspired
nicely? put!
WOW, super!
Hey, you used to write great, but the last few posts have been kinda boringˇK I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a little out of track! come on!
Wonderful paintings! That is the kind of information that are meant to be shared around the internet. Shame on the seek for no longer positioning this submit higher! Come on over and talk over with my site . Thank you =)
This is really what i was looking for. best wishes for the educational article and keep up the excellent work! Regards, Melissa.