Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by janrinok on Monday August 20 2018, @10:02PM   Printer-friendly
from the blind-shall-see dept.

Scientists report they have successfully developed and tested the world's first ultrathin artificial retina that could vastly improve on existing implantable visualization technology for the blind. The flexible device, based on very thin 2-D materials, could someday restore sight to the millions of people with retinal diseases. And with a few modifications, the device could be used to track heart and brain activity.

The researchers are presenting their work today at the 256th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

"This is the first demonstration that you can use few-layer graphene and molybdenum disulfide to successfully fabricate an artificial retina," Nanshu Lu, Ph.D., says. "Although this research is still in its infancy, it is a very exciting starting point for the use of these materials to restore vision," she says, adding that this device could also be implanted elsewhere in the body to monitor heart and brain activities.

[...] Diseases such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinitis pigmentosa can damage or destroy retinal tissue, leading to vision loss or complete blindness. There is no cure for many of these diseases, but silicon-based retinal implants have restored a modicum of vision to some individuals. However, Lu says these devices are rigid, flat and fragile, making it hard for them to replicate the natural curvature of the retina. As a result, silicon-based retinal implants often produce blurry or distorted images and can cause long-term strain or damage to surrounding eye tissue, including the optic nerve. Lu, who is at the University of Texas at Austin, and her collaborator Dae-Hyeong Kim, Ph.D., who is at Seoul National University, sought to develop a thinner, more flexible alternative that would better mimic the shape and function of a natural retina.

The researchers used 2-D materials, including graphene and molybdenum disulfide, as well as thin layers of gold, alumina and silicon nitrate to create a flexible, high-density and curved sensor array. The device, which resembles the surface of a flattened soccer ball or icosahedron, conforms to the size and shape of a natural retina without mechanically disturbing it.

Source: https://phys.org/news/2018-08-artificial-retinas-based-d-materials.html.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by requerdanos on Tuesday August 21 2018, @12:27AM (2 children)

    by requerdanos (5997) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday August 21 2018, @12:27AM (#723984) Journal

    very thin 2-D materials

    I suppose 2-D materials that are "very thin" are similar to 1-D materials that are "almost line-like".

    A surprise for me was the potential appeal to advertisers--I note in TFA [phys.org] that, quote:

    with a few modifications, the device could be used to track... brain activity.

    I mean what company wouldn't say "Hey that's much better than tracking cookies. Shut up and take my money!"

    I suppose they are calling them 2-D to simply mean "really really thin" but I note that they curve into a third dimension to conform to the spheroid shape of the back of the eyeball.

    I want to stress that bionic retinae that restore vision are very, very cool, even if there be parts that I don't understand or misunderstand.

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +2  
       Interesting=2, Total=2
    Extra 'Interesting' Modifier   0  
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   4  
  • (Score: 1) by beernutz on Tuesday August 21 2018, @06:08AM (1 child)

    by beernutz (4365) on Tuesday August 21 2018, @06:08AM (#724062)

    Maybe in this case they mean surfaces that are a single atom thick?

    • (Score: 2) by requerdanos on Tuesday August 21 2018, @11:30AM

      by requerdanos (5997) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday August 21 2018, @11:30AM (#724121) Journal

      That seems about right. I think if you go beyond the two dimensions of length and width and into the realm of a third dimension of thickness, however many atoms (or Planck lengths) thick, 2D stops being a descriptive term and starts being a metaphor.