Možnosti náhrady zrakového orgánu z pohledu současné technologie

Abstract

Considering eye replacement from the point of view of modern technologies the main role has the electric stimulation of neurons. Neural prostheses are named accordingly to the exact place of stimulation along the visual pathway. We can stimulate neuron of neural cortex directly, if so we are talking about cortex prostheses. Devices stimulating optic nerve are optic nerve prostheses. For retinal stimulation the devices are called retinal prostheses. Some prostheses are important only for their impact on development procedure other are developed directly for clinical aplication. Goal of this work is to present current and future concepts for retinal and optic nerve prostheses. In the beginning there is presented anatomical minimum of the visual pathway and general considerations common to all prostheses. Next parts of work are looking closer to the cortical, retinal and optic nerve prosthesis. Final chapter is devoted to the future concepts of prostheses futuring two concepts, where one is the hybrid prosthesis which uses incorporated living neurons inside the hardware of prosthesis, using its axons as electrodes and the robotic eye prosthesis, which is a marvel of advanced computing technology, integrating all the units (video capture, processing unit, amplifiers, stimulating devices) in one piece of hardware with the size and shape of human eye.