Prototype for 3-D Printed Bionic Eye
October 30, 2018 | Terry Sharrer
Following past success with bionic skin and a bionic ear, engineers at the University of Minnesota have created a prototype for a bionic eye using 3-D printing of an image sensing array on a curved surface. “Researchers started with a hemispherical glass dome to show how they could overcome the challenge of printing electronics on a curved surface. Using their custom-built 3D printer, they started with a base ink of silver particles. The dispensed ink stayed in place and dried uniformly instead of running down the curved surface. The researchers then used semiconducting polymer materials to print photodiodes, which convert light into electricity. The entire process takes about an hour.” MORE
Image Credit: University of Minnesota, McAlpine Group
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