Retinal Implant Successful in Bringing Vision to Blind

Retina Implant AG out of Reutlingen, Germany is reporting the publication of a clinical study evaluating the company's subretinal electronic chips in totally blind volunteers. The device contains 1500 active microphotodiodes, each with "its own amplifier and local stimulation electrode." These then control the generation of electrical impulses going up to the brain representing a 38 × 40 pixel grid. Three people in this study, blind due to hereditary retinal degeneration, were implanted with the device that's 3mm in diameter. All three reported varying levels of vision and one of the subjects was even able to discern common objects like knives and forks laying on the table.