artificialretina.energy.govArtificial Retina Project U.S. Dept. of Energy Office of Science

Archive Site Provided for Historical Purposes Funding for this work ended in FY 2011. About the Project Overview How the A.R. Works Patient Stories Project Collaborators CRADA A.R. Newsletter Research Technologies Challenges Performance Goals Research Publications Resources News Headlines Multimedia Presentations Retinal Diseases Foundations Team Highlights Meetings Archive Site Index Contacts Home FDA Approves Argus II A fundus image of an implanted Argus™ II microelectrode array. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Artificial Retina Project was a collaborative, multi-institutional effort to develop an implantable microelectronic retinal prosthesis that restores useful vision to people blinded by retinal diseases. The ultimate goal of the project was to restore reading ability, facial recognition, and unaided mobility in people with retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. The project tapped into the unique research technologies and resources developed at DOE national laboratories to surmount the many technical challenges involved with developing a safe, effective, and durable product. The research team included six DOE national laboratories, four universities, and private industry. Three models were in development or testing. Model 1, with 16 electrodes, was implanted in six patients. As of mid-July 2009, a second model integrating a 60-electrode array had been implanted in 30 human subjects domestically and internationally. Clinical testing of the devices was supported by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health and others. DOE funding for this work ended in FY 2011. Features Watch a video about the Artificial Retina Project ARGUS II receives FDA approval 02/13 PBS NEWSHOUR features artificial retina Humayun inducted into National Academy of Engineering Project wins Popular Mechanics 2010 Breakthrough Award Project wins top prize: R&D 100 Editors’ Choice Award The Doctors features Artificial Retina Humayun inducted into IOM Artificial Retina technologies win R&D 100 award 07/20/09 NBC News reports on bionic eye 06/16/09 Leveraging DOE research: AR Project spurs spinoff technologies BBC features patient [Video] The Artificial Retina Project was part of the Biological and Environmental Research Program of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Funding for this work ended in FY 2011. Contact Webmaster Base URL: http://artificialretina.energy.gov Last modified: Thursday, May 17,...