The Brief

• • A wireless microchip developed by Stanford physicist Daniel Palanker is giving blind patients with late-stage macular degeneration enough sight to read again.
  • The device, called “PRIMA,” is powered by infrared glasses similarly to solar panels and has undergone successful clinical trials in Europe.
  • Alameda-based Science Corp is manufacturing the chips and expects to receive European regulatory approval this summer following 47 surgeries worldwide.The eye implant, developed by Stanford scientist Daniel Palanker, is under consideration for sale approval in Europe following clinical trials. Stanford scientist uses ‘solar panel’ technology to give sight to the blind

    How It Works:

    The minuscule chip, called “PRIMA,” is the first device of its kind. It functions as a wireless implant powered by infrared glasses and remote-controlled, utilizing a technology similar to solar panels.

    “It converts light into current, but you need to provide enough light,” Palanker said. “For that, we need glasses which use infrared light, which is sufficiently bright to stimulate cells but is invisible.”

    The backstory:

    The breakthrough technology has been more than 20 years in the making. Palanker began working on this in 2004 at Stanford, after learning about wired implants. He said his passion for the subject led him to create a wireless version.

    The technology is aimed at restoring sight to elderly patients with macular degeneration, an age-related condition which impacts 20 million Americans. 1 million of those individuals ultimately suffer from total vision loss in what’s called geographic atrophy.

  • Read more & Watch video: Tiny Stanford-invented chip helps blind patients read again | KTVU FOX 2

  • Source: Fox 2 KTVU