News, Links and Commentary
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Micro-Pump for Neurotransmitters in Retina
Imagine having the work of dying photoreceptors taken over by tiny pumps implanted into the retina. Laxman Saggere, an assistant professor in the University of Illinois at Chicago's Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering is working to develop micro-pumps that can be implanted in the retinas of people with retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that animal trials of such a device could be four or five years away. Thanks to Blind World Magazine for posting news of this research to the Retinal Degeneration Discussion List (RPList).
Saggere believes the answer lies in an approach that mimics the function of healthy photoreceptors by exploiting MEMS -- micro-electromechanical systems -- or microsystems technology. The technology enables miniature mechanical and electrical components to work as miniature machines on a chip.
His work calls for eventually implanting in a blind person's eye a chip made up of several tiny fluid-dispensing micro-pumps with droplet-size reservoirs. The reservoirs would encapsulate chemicals, called neurotransmitters, that transmit vision signals. Each micro- pump would power itself, wirelessly, by absorbing the light falling on the retina via a tiny integrated solar cell.
The pump would squirt the neurotransmitters onto the diseased retinas. The result would be a function that could substitute for natural photoreceptors lost to disease.
'Prof designing micro-pump with goal of restoring sight,' Chicago Sun-Times, 15 June 2005.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that animal trials of such a device could be four or five years away. Thanks to Blind World Magazine for posting news of this research to the Retinal Degeneration Discussion List (RPList).
Comments:
Post a Comment
