{"id":9388,"date":"2018-09-04T01:00:10","date_gmt":"2018-09-04T01:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/?p=9388"},"modified":"2020-02-19T15:13:54","modified_gmt":"2020-02-19T15:13:54","slug":"prototype-3d-printed-bionic-eye-040920184","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/prototype-3d-printed-bionic-eye-040920184\/","title":{"rendered":"Researchers creates prototype of a 3D printed bionic eye"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
The University of Minnesota (UMN) McAlpine research group claims to have successfully 3D printed optoelectronic devices using polymeric photodetectors on hemispherical surfaces. These first prototypes could accelerate the development of a 3D printed bionic eye to help people with visual impairments.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
A bionic eye can seem very futuristic. And yet, the idea begins to make its way with several patients who have had one implanted. These have been able to regain certain visual abilities or even the full vision for some.\u00a0Additive manufacturing has a card to play in this area, especially when looking to Korea. Not too long ago we covered how Korean researchers managed to create an\u00a0artificial eye through 3D printing<\/a>.\u00a0Michael McAlpine, co-founder of the study and a professor of mechanical engineering department at UMN, explains, “Bionic eyes are usually thought of as science fiction, but now we are closer than ever using a multimaterial 3D printer.<\/em>“<\/div>\n
\n

\"3D<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/figure>\n

The 3D printed bionic eye would be more effective<\/h3>\n

This group of researchers are already fans of 3D printing and at the origin of many innovative projects, such as direct\u00a0printing of electronic components on the skin<\/a>.\u00a0This time around the interest fell towards eyes and wanting to test the additive manufacturing on rounded surfaces. They therefore used a 3D printer capable of extruding silver nanoparticle ink onto a hemispherical glass dome.\u00a0According to the team, the ink remained on this surface and dried steadily, instead of flowing along the dome.<\/p>\n

The researchers explain that they then used semiconductor polymer materials to print photodiodes that convert light into electricity.\u00a0These were placed in the glass dome on a plastic film.\u00a0The whole process would have taken about an hour.\u00a0McAlpine claimed that the conversion of light into electricity obtained with 3D printed semiconductors was 25% more efficient.<\/p>\n

\n

\"3D

3D printing on the rounded surface<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n

“We have a long way to go to routinely print active electronics reliably, but our 3D-printed semiconductors are now starting to show that they could potentially rival the efficiency of semiconducting devices fabricated in microfabrication facilities<\/em>” said McAlpine. “Plus, we can easily print a semiconducting device on a curved surface, and they can\u2019t.<\/em>“<\/p>\n

The next steps in the project are to create prototypes with more and more efficient light receivers.\u00a0Researchers would also like to find a way to print on a flexible hemispherical material. This to be implanted in a real eye.\u00a0You can find more information on the\u00a0official website of the university<\/a>\u00a0and in the video below:<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n