ARTIFICIAL VISION

TOWARDS CREATING THE JOYS OF

SEEINGFOR THE BLIND PAPER SUBMITTED BY
Made possible by micro medical electronics

ABSTRACT: Sandrapati Sravani, SK Jahirunnisa begam

Blindness is more feared by the public than any Ramachandra college of engg, Eluru

other ailment. Artificial vision for the blind was III ECE

once the stuff of science fiction. But now, a Sandrapati.sravani@gmail.com

limited form of artificial vision is a reality Jahirunnisa.sk@gmail.com

.Now we are at the beginning of the end of

blindness with this type of technology. In an
effort to illuminate the perpetually dark world INTRODUCTION:

of the blind, researchers are turning to Artificial-vision researchers take inspiration

technology. They are investigating several from another device, the cochlear implant,

electronic-based strategies designed to bypass which has successfully restored hearing to

various defects or missing links along the thousands of deaf people. But the human vision

brain's image processing pathway and provide system is far more complicated than that of

some form of artificial sight. hearing. The eye is one of the most amazing

This paper is about curing blindness. Linking organs in the body. Before we understand how

electronics and biotechnology, the scientists artificial vision is created, it's important to

has made the commitment to the development know about the important role that the retina

of technology that will provide or restore vision plays in how we see. Here is a simple

for the visually impaired around the world. explanation of what happens when we look at

This paper describes the development of an object:

artificial vision system, which cures blindness

• Scattered light from the object enters
to some extent. This paper explains the process
through the cornea.
involved in it and explains the concepts of
• The light is projected onto the retina.
artificial silicon retina, cortical implants etc.
• The retina sends messages to the brain
The roadblocks that are created are also
through the optic nerve.
elucidated clearly. Finally the advancements
• The brain interprets what the object is.
made in this system and scope of this in the
future is also presented clearly.
 vision
or total

blindness. However, it's been found that neither

of these retinal diseases affects the ganglion
cells or the optic nerve. This means that if
scientists can develop artificial cones and rods,
information could still be sent to the brain for
Figures (1,2): the
interpretation. This concept laid the foundation
anatomy of the eye and its path view
for the invention of the ARTIFICIAL
The retina is complex in itself. This thin VISION SYSTEM technology.
membrane at the back of the eye is a vital part
HOW TO CREATE ARTIFICIAL
of our ability to see. Its main function is to
VISION?
receive and transmit images to the brain. These
are the three main types of cells in the eye that The current path that scientists are taking to
help perform this function: Rods, Cones and create artificial vision received a jolt in 1988,
Ganglion Cells. The information received by when Dr. Mark Humayun demonstrated that a
the rods and cones are transmitted to the nearly blind person could be made to see light by
1 million ganglion cells in the retina. These stimulating the nerve ganglia behind the retina
ganglion cells interpret the messages from the with an electrical current. This test proved that
rods and cones and send the information on to the nerves behind the retina still functioned
the brain by way of the optic nerve. There are a even when the retina had degenerated. Based
number of retinal diseases that attack these on this information, scientists set out to create a
cells, which can lead to blindness. The most device that could translate images and electrical
notable of these diseases are retinitis pulses that could restore vision. Today, such a
pigmentosa and age-related macular device is very close to be available to the
degeneration. Both of these diseases attack the millions of people who have lost their vision to
retina, rendering the rods and cones retinal disease. In fact, there are at least two
inoperative, causing either loss of peripheral silicon microchip devices that are being
developed. The concept for both devices is for an artificial retina to work it has to be small
similar, with each being: enough so that doctors can transplant it in the
eye without damaging the other structures
• Small enough to be implanted in the eye
within the eye. Groups of researchers have
• Supplied with a continuous source of
found that blind people can see spots of light
power
when electrical currents stimulate cells,
• Biocompatible with the surrounding eye
following the experimental insertion of an
tissue
electrode device near or into their retina. Some
patients even saw crude shapes in the form of
these light spots. This indicates that despite
damage to cells in the retina, electronic
techniques can transmit signals to the next step
in the pathway and provide some form of visual
sensation. Researchers are currently developing
more sophisticated computer chips with the
hope that they will be able to transmit more
meaningful images to the brain.

How does ARTIFICIAL SILICON RETINA

works?

The ASR contains about 3,500 microscopic

solar cells that are able to convert light into
electrical pulses, mimicking the function of
cones and rods. To implant this device into the
Figures (3,4) The dot above the date on this
eye, surgeons make three tiny incisions no
penny is the full size of the Artificial Silicon
larger than the diameter of a needle in the white
Retina.
part of the eye. Through these incisions, the
surgeons introduce a miniature cutting and
Perhaps the most promising of these two silicon
vacuuming device that removes the gel in the
devices is the ARTIFICIAL SILICON
middle of the eye and replaces it with saline.
RETINA (ASR). The ASR is an extremely tiny
Next, a pinpoint opening is made in the retina
device. It has a diameter of just 2 mm (.078
through which they inject fluid to lift up a
inch) and is thinner than a human hair. In order
portion of the retina from the back of the eye,
which creates a small pocket in the sub retinal millimeters (.00078 inch). There are significant
space for the device to fit in. The retina is then differences between the devices, however.
resealed over the ASR. According to researchers, the ARCC will give
blind patients the ability to see 10 by 10 pixel
images, which is about the size of a single letter
on this page. However, researchers have said
that they could eventually develop a version of
the chip that would allow 250 by 250 pixel
array, which would allow those who were once
blind to read a newspaper.

WORKING OF ARTIFICIAL VISION

SYSTEM:
Figure 5:Here you can see where the ASR is
The main parts of this system are miniature
placed between the outer and inner retinal
video camera, a signal processor, and the brain
layers.
implants. The tiny pinhole camera, mounted on
For any microchip to work it needs power, and a pair of eyeglasses, captures the scene in front
the amazing thing about the ASR is that it of the wearer and sends it to a small computer
receives all of its needed power from the light on the patient's belt. The processor translates
entering the eye. This means that with the ASR the image into a series of signals that the brain
implant in place behind the retina, it receives can understand, and then sends the information
all of the light entering the eye. This solar to the brain implant that is placed in patient’s
energy eliminates the need for any wires, visual cortex. And, if everything goes
batteries or other secondary devices to supply according to plan, the brain will "see" the
power. image.

Another microchip device that would restore

partial vision is currently in development called
the artificial retina component chip (ARCC),
this device is quite similar to the ASR. Both are
made of silicon and both are powered by solar
energy. The ARCC is also a very small device
measuring 2 mm square and a thickness of .02
 the device would cover about 10° of the
wearer’s field of vision.

The patient should wear sunglasses with a tiny

pinhole camera mounted on one lens and an
ultrasonic range finder on the other. Both
devices communicate with a small computer
carried on his hip, which highlights the edges
between light and dark areas in the camera
image. It then tells an adjacent computer to
send appropriate signals to an array of small
electrodes on the surface of patient’s brain,
through wires entering his skull. The electrodes
stimulate certain brain cells, making the person
perceive the specks of light. The shifting
patterns as scans across a scene tells him where
light areas meet dark ones, letting him find the
black cap on the white wall, for example. The
device provides a sort of tunnel vision, reading
Figures (6,7) illustrating the AV SYSTEM. an area about the size of a card 2 inches wide
and 8 inches tall, held at arm's length.
Light enters the camera, which then sends the
*ADVANCEMENTS IN CREATING
image to a wireless wallet-sized computer for
ARTIFICIAL VISION:
processing. The computer transmits this
information to an infrared LED screen on the Ceramic optical detectors based on the photo-
goggles. The goggles reflect an infrared image ferroelectrics effect are being developed for
into the eye and on to the retinal chip, direct implantation into the eyes of patients
stimulating photodiodes on the chip. The with retinal dystrophies. In retinal dystrophies
photodiodes mimic the retinal cells by where the optic nerve and retinal ganglia are
converting light into electrical signals, which intact (such as Retinitis Pigmentosa), direct
are then transmitted by cells in the inner retina retinal implant of an optical detector to
via nerve pulses to the brain. The goggles are stimulate retinal ganglia could allow patients to
transparent so if the user still has some vision, regain some sight. In such cases additional
they can match that with the new information - wiring to the brain cortex is not required, and
for biologically inert detectors, surgical due to retinal disease, by some estimates about
implantation can be quite direct. The detector 30% of the blind. Moreover, scientists don't
currently being developed for this application is believe any implant could help those blind
a thin film ferroelectric detector, which under since birth, because their brains never have
optical illumination can generate a local learned to recognize vision.
photocurrent and photo voltage. The local
What blind patients would not be able to use
electric current generated by this miniature
detector excites the retinal neural circuit this device?

resulting in a signal at the optic nerve that may

We believe the device will be applicable to
be translated by the cortex of the brain as
virtually all patients who are blind or who have
"seeing light". Detectors based on PbLaZrTiO3
very low vision. The only ones contraindicated
(PLZT) and BiVMnO3 (BVMO) films exhibit a
would be a few blinded by serious brain
strong photo response in visible range
damage, or who have chronic infections, etc.
overlapping eye response from 380 nm to 650
that preclude surgical implants. Patients who
nm. The thin film detector heterostructures
have a small amount of vision are not
have been implanted into the eyes of rabbits for
contraindicated. Visual cortex stimulation
biocompatibility test, and have shown no
seems to work the same in both sighted and
biological incompatibilities.
blind patients.
The bionic devices tested so far include both
those attached to the back of the eye itself and
those implanted directly in the brain. Patients BOTTLENECKS RAISED BY THIS
with both types of implants describe seeing TECHNOLOGY:
multiple points of light and, in some cases,
crude outlines of objects. Placing electrodes in 1.The first and foremost thing is the cost .The
the eye has proved easier. During the past miniaturization of equipment and more
decade, work on these retinal implants has powerful computers have made this artificial
attracted growing government funding and vision possible, but it's not cheap: The
commercial interest. Such implants zap operation, equipment and necessary training
electrical signals to nerves on the back of the cost $70,000 per patient. And also may be
eye, which then carry them to the brain. much higher depending upon the context and
However, since these devices take advantage of severity.
surviving parts of the eye they will help only
the subset of blind people whose blindness is
2.It may not work for people blinded as only the photoreceptors in the retina. However,
children or as infants, because the visual cortex if the Optic Nerve itself is damaged, the only
do not develop normally. But it will work for possibility for restoring sight is to directly
the vast majority of the blind -- 98 to 99 stimulate the visual cortex. Cortical prosthesis
percent. is designed specifically for this task. Although
the categories presented account for most of the
3.Researchers caution, however, that artificial research in Artificial Vision, there are a few
vision devices are still highly experimental and more exotic techniques being developed. One
practical systems are many years away. Even of these is the BioHybrid Implant a device
after they are refined, the first wave will most that incorporates living cells with man-made
likely provide only crude images, such as the elements. Regardless of the specific design, all
outline of a kitchen doorway. It does not of these devices are working towards the same
function as well as the real eye, and does not goal-- a permanent replacement for part of the
have crystal-clear vision (as it is only a human visual system.
camera).The device is a very limited
navigational aid, and it's a far cry from the
visual experience normal people enjoy.

OTHER REASONS CAUSING CONCLUSION:

BLINDNESS AND THEIR REMEDIES:
The electronic eye is the latest in high-tech
The main aim of Artificial Vision is to restore gadgets aimed at helping millions of
some degree of sight to the profoundly blind. blind and visually impaired people.
Since blindness can result from defects at many Although the images produced by the
different points along the visual pathway, there artificial eye were far from perfect, they
are accordingly a wide variety of proposed could be clear enough to allow someone
models for an "Artificial Eye". who is otherwise blind to recognize faces.
The first useful artificial eye is now
The earliest stage of visual processing is the
helping a blind man walk safely around
transudation of light into electrical signals by
and read large letters. Several efforts are
the photoreceptors. If this is the only process
now underway to create vision in
that is interrupted in a blind individual, he or
otherwise blind eyes. While technically
she may benefit from a Sub-Retinal
exciting, much more work in this area
Prosthesis, a device that is designed to replace
needs to be completed before anything is
 available to the majority of patients. www.
Research is ongoing in two areas: cortical wikipedia.org
implants and retinal implants. There is
www
still an enormous amount of work to be
.itotd.com
done in developing artificial retinas. In
recent years, progress is being made
towards sensory distribution devices for
the blind. In the long run, there could be
the possibility of brain implants. A brain
implant or cortical implant provides
visual input from a camera directly to the
brain via electrodes in contact with the
visual cortex at the backside of the head.

BIBILIOGRAPHY:

BOOKS:

1. Humayun MS, de Juan E Jr.,

Dagnelie G, et al. Visual perception
elicited by electrical stimulation of
retina in blind humans. Archives of
Ophthalmology; vol 114.

2. “Artificial Vision for the Blind by

Connecting a Television Camera to
the Brain" ASAIO Journal 2000

WEB:
www.artificialvision.com

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