Here is a short article that CBS ran on the Dobelle artificial vision
system. The piece contains less information than the CNN story of the prior
week. But the good news is that Dobelle's group is getting the word out
about this new technology.

It is my sincere belief that agencies for the blind need to get up to speed
with this new technology in order to train consumers how to use it safely.


Technology Brings Sight To The Blind. NEW YORK, June 14, 2002.

It sounds like science fiction, but The Early Show has learned that a
handful of
blind adults now have some sense of sight, thanks to new medical technology
called
the Dobelle Artificial Vision System.

Dr. William Dobelle spent 30 years researching and developing his Artificial
Vision
System, which works by using a miniature television camera mounted on the
lens of a
patient's sunglasses. The camera sends images to a microcomputer worn on a
belt
around the waist.

The 10-pound, dictionary-sized microcomputer processes the data, sends
signals to a
stimulator and then to electrodes that have been surgically implanted on
visual cortex
areas on both sides of the brain. In other words, the brain cells that
control sight are
being artificially stimulated by small electric pulses. The electrodes are
attached to a
wire that protrudes through a small hole in the patient's skull and hooks up
to the
computer.

Dr. Dobelle first implanted a similar electrode in a volunteer in 1978. In
April 2002,
the procedure and accompanying technology were ready for the first
commercial patients.
Eight patients paid around $100,000 each and traveled to Portugal for the
procedure,
which has not yet been submitted to the FDA for approval. Eventually, Dr.
Dobelle
believes his vision system will become widely available all over the world.

"Remember the engineer on Star Trek who was blind? He wore those glasses,"
said Dr.
Dobelle. "They allowed him to see. That's the wave of the future, not
Braille, not
seeing eye dogs."

He can't give an exact time when he expects the technology to be offered in
the U.S.
Dr. Dobelle pointed out that most new medical advancements are accepted in
other
countries first.

Dr. Dobelle believes his vision system should benefit almost anyone who is
blind or has
very low vision. Exceptions include anyone who is blind as a result of
serious brain
damage or has a chronic infection. On his Web site, the doctor describes the
surgery
itself as quite simple and requiring only local anesthesia.

A patient identified only as Jens says the surgery has been a success in his
case. He
was one of the eight who paid to have the procedure preformed in April.
Jens, 39, lost
vision in one eye at age 17 and in his other at 20 - both due to accidents.

As he explained, the procedure actually consists of three parts - medical,
technical
and rehabilitation. He had the surgery and is currently in the midst of the
"technical"
stage. Once the electrodes are placed on the brain, the patient does not
begin using
the vision system full-time. All of the technology must be fined tuned on a
patient-by-patient basis due to small differences in brain function.
Currently, he
wears the glasses and computer for an hour a day.

"I can tell a difference in my mood when they take it away - it's worse."
Jens said.
"I don't want to give it back."

Once doctors and researchers are convinced that Jens' computer is ready to
go, they
will send him home to begin his rehabilitation. He will learn on his own how
to function
with his new vision.

Jens has not seen anything for 19 years. But 30 minutes after donning his
special
glasses and computer belt, he was driving. Granted, it was only in a parking
lot and he
admits he could only see landmarks of shape and shadow, but it was still an
immense
feeling of freedom. His eyes need to learn to work again and his vision
system still
needs some adjustments. However, he is confident that his vision will
continue to
improve.

When asked in more detail what he can see, he says to imagine a paper cutout
of a
person. Fill that cutout shape with dots and then remove the cutout itself.
That's
what objects look like now.

"They've restored my fifth sense," Jens explained. "It doesn't matter how
crude it is."

Source URL:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/06/13/earlyshow/health/main512160.shtml