Pixium Vision brings sight to the blind

Pixium Vision, a company based in Paris, has revealed that it's new bionic vision system—the Iris II—has been successfully put into their first patient.

The device was cleared for use in Europe in July and was given the go-ahead to use it for clinical trials. The first procedure was done in London in Spetember, and the company activated the system afterwards.

The prosthesis includes an implant that contains 150 electrode and is put next to the eye. Glasses, which have a special camera to record what is happening in front of the patient, sends signals to the implant that stimulates the nerve cells of the inner retina. This sytem is effective in replacing the work of damaged cells, letting people who are blind restore some basic vision.

The camera has independent pixels that can update naturally as the incoming light changes. The implant can also be removed and upgraded, allowing patients to improved vision with further developments.