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Bionic lens spies virtual world

bionic lens

This bionic contact lens, seen here tested in a rabbit eye, promises to superimpose computer images onto what you see. The lens is embedded with electronic circuitry to one day help gamers, drivers and pilots navigate real and virtual worlds (Source: University of Washington)

Engineers say they have combined a flexible contact lens with an imprinted electronic circuit and lights for the first time.

The 'bionic' lens could give wearers a new look at the world by superimposing computerised images onto their natural view.

Such virtual displays could be useful to drivers and pilots, who could have route, weather or vehicle status information overlaid onto their vision.

Video game players could immerse themselves in a virtual world without restricting their range of motion.

The lens could even be paired with sensors that monitor a person's biological conditions - cholesterol level or the presence of viruses and bacteria - and transmit the data wirelessly to a computer.

"If we're successful initially, and it takes off, this can get really sophisticated in the next few years," says Babak Parviz, an assistant professor of electrical engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle.

For example, Parviz says miniature cameras with adaptive lenses could be incorporated, which could zoom in on something far away or look at something very close. This would essentially provide bionic vision.

To make a lens

Parviz and his team developed the lens using microfabrication and self-assembly techniques similar to those used to make semiconductor chips.

They started with the material polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, the same plastic used to make food and drink containers.

The researchers deposited layers of metal just a few nanometers thick in a circuit pattern.

They also created tiny, round openings on the surface eventually meant to hold nanometer-sized light-emitting diodes or LEDs, which are so tiny they look like powder.

Next, they sprinkled the LEDs onto the surface.

They rolled around like balls inside a pinball machine until coming to rest inside one of the openings.

The researchers then coated the whole device with a harmless material and shaped it to fit the curve of an eye.

The lenses were tested on rabbits for up to 20 minutes, and the animals showed no adverse effects.

Because of concerns for animal safety, the scientists did not light up the LEDs for display. But they plan to do this as soon as they are confident it will be safe.

Image on the retina

The idea is that the LEDs will create an image on the back of the retina, which the wearer sees overlaid onto their natural view of the world.

In another application, sensors on the contact lens could be designed to send a signal when they detect a particular molecule.

Recently, the researchers demonstrated that they could power the lens using radio signals. These signals would eliminate the need for any embedded power supply, such as batteries that could contain chemicals harmful to the eye.

Enough grunt?

But those signals might not be enough, says George Malliaras, associate professor of materials science and engineering and director of the Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility at Cornell University.

"If you use it as a display or as a GPS, you need a computer on the side," he says.

"That will involve a lot of data being transferred and will take a considerable amount of real estate to deal with this data.

"[But] the demonstration shows how promising it is and is a big step toward many more impressive things to come."

Tags: games, electronics, computers-and-technology