The BVA storyBuilding the bionic eye is a unique project, but like any medical device, it involves an iterative process bringing together the whole spectrum of expertise in our diverse team.

Bionic Vision Australia (BVA) is a national consortium of researchers working together to develop a bionic eye.

Our goal is to develop safe and effective retinal implants that can restore a sense of vision to people living with blindness. We are targetting two conditions: retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.

We are committed to training the next generation of experts in medical bionics.

Step 1: Design prototypesResearchers are developing two bionic vision devices:

The wide-view device combines novel technologies with materials that have been successfully used in other clinical implants. This approach incorporates a microchip with 98 stimulating electrodes and aims to provide increased mobility for patients to help them move safely in their environment.

The high-acuity device incorporates a number of exciting and new technologies to bring together a microchip and an implant with 1024 electrodes. The device aims to provide functional central vision to assist with tasks such as face recognition and reading large print.

Step 2: Establish safety and efficacy The design process goes hand in hand with ongoing safety and efficacy testing. This is a critical part of the project, to ensure that each design iteration is bringing us closer to delivering the best patient outcomes. This work involves vital feedback from the clinical and surgical teams and ensures our devices are compliant with Australian and international standards.

Step 3: Commence first patient testsOur ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for people with degenerative vision conditions. We plan to carry out the first prototype human implant in 2013. Following successful patient tests the commercialisation process will commence.

Development timeline 1997 Start of bionic eye research at University of New

South Wales

2000 Early funding through ARC, NHMRC, State Governments of Victoria and New South Wales, Multimedia Victoria and private donations

2006 First discussions commence between Bionics Institute, Centre for Eye Research Australia, NICTA, University of Melbourne and University of New South Wales

2009 Announcement of $42 million grant to BVA from Australian Research Council, over four years

2010 Launch of Bionic Vision Australia Engineers design prototype implant for

wide-view device Surgeons develop safe and effective technique

for implantation Engineers create image encoding techniques

to stimulate vision

2011 Engineers develop microchip for wide-view device Complete design of electrode array for wide-view

device Engineers build first test microchip for high-

acuity device Clinicians complete structure and function

study with retinitis pigmentosa patients

2012 Materials scientists make electrodes out of conductive diamond for high-acuity device

Develop stimulation algorithms Finalise implant designs Finalise preclinical testing of wide view device Develop protocols to assess patient suitability

for implant and to evaluation functional vision in daily life

External hardware for vision processing and power and data transmission

2013 First patient tests with wide-view device

2014 First patient tests with high-acuity device

Commence commercialisation process with Bionic Vision Technologies, including further clinical trials and technological refinement

-2008

Find out more:

Find us on facebook

Follow us on twitter @bionicvision

www.bionicvision.org.au

An initiative of

Our members

Our partners

b

b

vision neuroscientist

vision scientist

optometrist

ophthalmologist

biomedical engineer

surgeon

computer scientist

physicist

psychologist

materials scientist

project manager

chip designer

electrical engineer

What does it take to build a bionic eye?