Researchers from the University of Minnesota has managed to create a prototype of bionic eye using a 3D printer. It incorporates photodiodes that could ultimately stimulate the optic nerve of a blind person.
To achieve this, scientists have created a conductive ink based on silver particles. The 3D printer thus made a mesh of strips on which photodiodes were then printed. According to the team of researchers, the manufacturing took about an hour.
In the scientific article, we learn that this prototype of bionic eye displays a conversion rate of light in electricity of 25%. This rate is still too weak to consider making a prosthesis usable in real conditions by blind people.
Before that, researchers say they want to focus on reproducing their 3D printing technique on a flexible hemispherical material and especially to densify the network of photodiodes to increase efficiency.
