Argus retinal prosthesis
Argus Retinal Prosthesis
The Argus Retinal Prosthesis (pronounced: /ˈɑːrɡəs/), also known as the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, is an artificial retina developed by Second Sight Medical Products. It is designed to restore some functional vision for people suffering from retinitis pigmentosa or other severe forms of retinal degeneration.
Etymology
The name "Argus" is derived from Greek mythology, where Argus Panoptes was a giant with a hundred eyes. This reflects the device's function of providing visual perception.
Function
The Argus Retinal Prosthesis works by converting images captured by a miniature video camera housed in the patient's glasses into a series of small electrical pulses. These pulses are transmitted wirelessly to an array of electrodes implanted on the surface of the retina. These pulses stimulate the retina's remaining cells, resulting in the corresponding perception of patterns of light in the brain. The patient then learns to interpret these visual patterns, thereby regaining some visual function.
Related Terms
- Retinitis pigmentosa: A group of rare, genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and loss of cells in the retina.
- Retina: The sensory membrane that lines the inner surface of the back of the eyeball. It receives the image produced by the lens, converts it into chemical and nervous signals, and sends these signals to the brain.
- Second Sight Medical Products: A company that develops, manufactures and markets implantable visual prosthetics to enable blind individuals to achieve greater independence.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Argus retinal prosthesis
- Wikipedia's article - Argus retinal prosthesis
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