Wirelessly powered retina to lighten blind man's black essence
Electricity is only a black essence for the blind. Did anyone of us ever assume electricity could one day be a boon not just for the ones fortunate enough to see, but for the blind too? Then perhaps that's the reason why they call Japan the land of illusion where everything is possible and possibly everything is available. Is it the technology or the brains behind the technology that highlights them, I am still to figure. Whatever the equation, one aspect is outrightly clear - Japanese rule the roost when evolution is the prime concept, if you don't, Steve Levenstein will definitely comply.
Here again we bang head on into a development underway in the land of the rising sun, A group of Japanese research from Tohoku University have made a major advancement in the wireless transmission of electricity.
This know-how is crafted to allow the blind to see again, without the need for a retina transplant, though. Amazing, yes it is for you and me who are placed away from that land, but it's just another day's work for the geeky Japanese.
The team of researchers has unveiled the concept, i.e. an artificial retina that can be implanted into the head and unlike the conventional technique, that used cables, this one draws its power by electromagnetic induction from an external source.
The pair of glasses used work on power generated by a battery. The current produced here (in the battery) is supplied to an induction coil embedded in the lens of the glass, which transfers a charge to the circuit deployed behind the eyeball, and that is how finally the artificial retina would function.
The power supply function is about ready to kick, but the artificial retina is yet in the building blocks. This technology will be yearning awaited, however, as every life is followed by death, every technological advancement is chased down by a speck. Therefore, when the tech is on the drawing board, biggest block for the developers is to encounter the same.
Here too, the team confronts a challenge; the current flowing through the circuit could generate high frequency that could risk the eye causing excessive heating within. To counter which, the researchers wish to keep power consumption below 50mW to avoid crossing the 3°C danger line at which the eye could be damaged. Wish the researcher go through the project successfully, so the blind now, also enjoy the electricity for a bright soul.
[Source: DigitalWorldTokyo]
