[Blindtlk] Argus II

[Michael]

Congratulations James on your successful outcome.  Last week Second Sight,
the developer of the Argus 2, successfully implanted their Orion I in an
animal model.  The Orion I uses the Argus 2 technology and bypasses the eye
and optic nerve, implanting a neural electrode directly on the visual
cortex.  Full scale animal studies will begin in the first quarter of 2016
and human trials slated for some time in 2017.  The Orion I, if successful,
will be able to restore some functional vision to individuals with most
forms of blindness.

Michael

-----Original Message----- 
From: James Kelm via blindtlk
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2015 8:59 PM
To: Blind Talk
Subject: [Blindtlk] Argus II

Dear friends,

    I have been on a tremendous adventure over the last several months, and
while the adventure will continue for quite a while yet, I wanted to share
it with all of you on this list.  I thought that it would be of interest,
and of special value to those who like me, have R.P.

    There is a brand new form of technology centered around something called
an Argus II implant.  This technology will be expanded in years to come to
include a number of different types of physical problems, not limited to
blindness only, but for now, it is only being offered to folks with R.P.
Byway of a very brief introduction, the Argus II consists of a very small
implant into one eye, connected to the optical nerve.  There is then a pair
of glasses which has a very small video camera built into the frame of the
glasses.  There is then a small computer, approximately the size of a small
walk-man, that you can wear on your belt.

    Now when the camera “see” something, it sends that “picture” to the
computer.  The computer then changes the picture into electrical signals,
which are in turn sent to the implant in the eye.  What all this means, is
that for the first time ever, a person with advanced R.P. such as myself,
has the ability to “see” there environment!  My vision is not now 20 20, but
it has been improved noticeably!  This is an amazing development for those
of us who have never had any chance for improvement in our eye sight!

    If you want to see more on my own personal journey, please click on
http://blogs.umnhealth.org/4-3-2015/blind-pastor-sees-his-wife-for-the-first-time-thanks-to-innovative-bionic-eye,
and you will find some written articles, as well as some clips of television
news stories that have been aired.

    If you have any questions, comments, etc. for me personally, I have all
of my contact information below.

    Thank you for allowing me to share my adventure with all of you, and I
hope that by me sharing it, it will help some of you as well!


Respectfully Yours in Christ,
Pastor James Kelm
True Hope Church of Duluth
Phone: (218) 727-4186
Church Office E-mail: office at thcduluth.org
Pastor's Direct E-mail: jameskelm at thcduluth.org
Web Site: www.thcduluth.org
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