3D printed bionic eye

Image sensing array on a hemisphere

Screenshots

View Image

Hunter's comment

Bionic eyes are usually just seen on movies and in science fiction. However with this development that researchers from University of Minnesota have discovered, bionic eyes can become a reality.

The researchers have 3D printed a prototype of an image sensing array on a hemisphere that can be fitted like contact lens. As quoted from the website:

The researchers then used semiconducting polymer materials to print photodiodes, which convert light into electricity.

... 25 percent efficiency in converting the light into electricity they achieved with the fully 3D-printed semiconductors.

Which means the receptors are able to sense the light and thus can eventually be worked on improving sensing images. The researchers admit that they have a long way to go but this is a great start. They were actually known to have printed bionic ear and bionic skin in the past so the eye is not a surprise to come next.

Watch how it is 3D printed here: