It has been reported in the media this week that Ray Flynn, an elderly British man is the first person in the world to have his sight restored using a bionic eye implant.
Mr. Flynn suffers from dry age-related macular degeneration or AMD which causes his sight to be significantly diminished and only allows partial vision out of the corners of his eyes.
Last month, however Mr. Flynn participated in a ground breaking medical trial during which surgeons inserted a device known as the Argus II to the outside of his eye.
So, here is the ‘science bit’. A tiny camera attached to the patient’s glasses captures a scene which is sent to a small patient-worn computer.
The scene is processed and transformed into instructions that are sent back to the glasses by using a cable.
The instructions are transmitted wirelessly to the retinal implant. The signals are then sent to the electrode array, which emits small pulses of electricity.
These pulses stimulate the retina’s remaining working cells, which transmit the visual information along the optic nerve to the brain, creating the perception of patterns of light.
Patients learn to interpret these visual patterns with their retinal implant.
The video below illustrates exactly how it works.
However, the cost is approximately €213,000 so unfortunately I don’t see the bionic eye becoming widely available in Ireland for quite some time.
Another emerging technology that I am currently researching for a short documentary project is the Ekso GT Robotic Exo Skeleton which allows wheelchair users and those with limited mobility to ‘walk’.
When users of this wearable technology shift their weight in the upright standing position, sensors are activated which initiate steps and battery powered motors drive the legs.
Those who have mobility need to stand and walk to stay healthy. Those with limited mobility as a result of Spinal Cord Injury, MS, Stroke, Friedrich’s Ataxia and Spina Bifida also need to stand and walk to improve lung capacity, bone density and bowel and bladder function as well as staying fit and healthy.
In Ireland, there are currently 3 EksoBionic suits, 2 of which are in clinical/rehabilitation settings. The other one? It is in a gym here in Cork!
The Elite Gym in Cork is the only gym in the world that houses the EksoBionic Suit, affectionately known as Lazarus, making it very accessible for users. It is currently on deposit since Jan 2015 and it will cost €150,000 to keep it in the gym.
Colin O’Shaughnessy , owner of the gym and world-champion kickboxer and Nathan Kirwan who is a C4 Spinal Cord Injury survivor established www.helpfulsteps.ie and have been fundraising since January this year to secure Lazarus’s stay at the gym.
Users from all over Ireland have been travelling to Cork to use the suit and have been participating in the Walk with Me Challenge at the gym to raise much needed funds.
The difference between the bionic eye and the bionic suit is that the cost of the bionic suit is achievable and the benefits are priceless.
Check out www.helpfulsteps.ie and http://www.gofundme.com/exoforireland if you would like to help. Every cent counts.
Jenny Regan Cybercultures 