Bionic eye could restore sight for millions: Scientists use 3D printing to build a new prototype 'eyeball' that can detect changes in light levels
仿生眼有助數百萬人恢復視力：科學家利用3D列印技術製造出一種新原型「眼球」，可以探測光照水平的變化
▌ 部分素材來源於《每日郵報》，世界播團隊翻譯
Scientists have taken another important step towards building the world's first bionic eye, which could give millions of blind people the chance to see again.
科學家們又朝創造出世界上第一個仿生眼邁出了重要一步，這將使數百萬盲人有機會再次恢復視力。
In a world first, a team of researchers have built a three-dimensional artificial 'eyeball' capable of detecting changes in light levels.
日前，一組研究人員研製出了一種三維人工「眼球」，這種「眼球」可以探測光照水平的變化，這在世界上尚屬首次。
The bionic eye, which mimics the function of the retina in order to restore sight, works in tandem with an implant to convert the images it sees into electrical impulses for the retinal cells, which carry image signals back to the brain.
仿生眼模仿視網膜的功能以恢復視力，與植入物協同工作，將所看到的圖像轉換為視網膜細胞的電脈衝，將圖像信號傳回大腦。
By using 3D printing, scientists were able to produce the prototype much faster than previous efforts – sparking hope this could be a viable commercial solution in future.
通過使用3D列印技術，科學家們能夠以比以往更快的速度製造出原型眼球，這有望成為未來可行的商業解決方案。
However, there is no date on when a final version will be ready for patients.
然而，目前還不清楚最終版何時可以提供給患者。
Researchers say the next step is to create a prototype eyeball with more light receptors to re-create a greater quality of sight.
研究人員說，下一步是用更多的光感受器創造一個眼球原型，以重新創造更高的視覺質量。
They are also looking to find a way to 3D print the same technology onto a softer material, which could then be inserted into a real eye socket.
他們還在尋找一種將同樣的技術3D列印到更軟的材料上的方法，這種材料可以植入一個真正的眼窩。
University of Minnesota researchers created the artificial eyeball for the first time using a 3D printer to add light receptors onto the hemispherical surface, which is half a sphere.
明尼蘇達大學的研究人員首次使用3D印表機在半球形表面添加光感受器，創造出這種人造眼球。
It is the first step toward creating a 'bionic eye' that could someday restore sight for blind or partially-sighted people.
這是創造「仿生眼」的第一步，將來有一天，它可以為盲人或視力部分殘疾的人恢復視力。
Bionic eyes could also be used to enhance the vision of sighted people.
仿生眼還可以用來提高正常人的視力。
'Bionic eyes are usually thought of as science fiction, but now we are closer than ever using a multimaterial 3D printer,' said Michael McAlpine, a co-author of the study.
「仿生眼通常被認為只會出現在科幻小說中，但現在用多材料3D印表機，我們比以往任何時候都更接近這一夢想的實現。」該研究的合作者麥可·麥卡爾平說。
Scientists had figure out how to print electronics onto a curved surface.
科學家們已經弄明白如何在曲面上印刷電子產品。
They started with a hemispherical glass dome, according to the paper published in the journal Advanced Materials.
根據這篇發表在《先進材料》雜誌上的論文，他們從半球形玻璃圓頂開始。
Using their custom-built 3D printer, they lined it with a base ink of silver particles.
使用他們定製的3D印表機，他們用銀色微粒的油墨在上面劃線。
The dispensed ink stayed in place and dried uniformly on the 'eyeball', instead of running down the curved surface.
墨水留在原處，並在「眼球」上均勻乾燥，而不是沿著曲面流動。。
The researchers then used the dried ink to place photodiodes, which convert light into electricity, created using semiconducting polymer materials.
然後研究人員用幹墨水放置光電二極體，光電二極體利用半導體聚合物材料將光轉化為電能。
In total, it takes around an hour to complete a bionic eye using this method.
總的來說，用這種方法完成一個仿生眼大約需要一個小時。
'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,' said Dr McAlpine.
麥卡爾平博士說：「要讓有源電子器件的列印得到常規可靠的應用，我們還要多加努力，但我們的3d列印半導體已經開始說明，它們製造半導體設備的效率有可能與微型製造設備媲美。」
Highlighting another advantage of using the newly-developed 3D printing method, Dr McAlpine added: 'Plus, we can easily print a semiconducting device on a curved surface, and they can't.'
麥卡爾平博士強調了使用新開發的3D列印方法的另一個優勢，他補充說：「另外，我們可以很容易地在曲面上列印半導體設備，但是微型製造設備不能。」
For Dr McAlpine, the interest in this field is also personal.
對於麥卡爾平博士來說，對這個領域的興趣也來源於他個人因素。
'My mother is blind in one eye, and whenever I talk about my work, she says, "When are you going to print me a bionic eye?",' he said.
「我媽媽的一隻眼睛是瞎的，每當談起我的工作時，她都說，『你什麼時候能給我列印一隻仿生眼？』」他說。
The University of Minnesota researchers say the next step in the process is to add more light receptors to the artificial eyeball, as well as find a softer, more forgiving material that could be used for a prototype that fits inside a real eye socket, or orbit.
明尼蘇達大學的研究人員說，下一步的工作是在人造眼球上添加更多的光感受器，同時找到一種更柔軟、更兼容的材料，可以用來製作適合真正眼窩或眼眶的原型。
This is not the first time these researchers have 3D printed bionic body parts.
這並不是這些研究人員第一次使用3D列印仿生人體部件。
A few years ago, scientists produced a 'bionic ear' and since then they have 3D printed life-like artificial organs for surgical practice.
幾年前，科學家們製造了一種「仿生耳」，從那以後，他們就有了為外科手術用的3D列印仿真器官。
They have also made an electronic fabric that could serve as 'bionic skin'.
他們還製造了一種可以充當「仿生皮膚」的電子織物。
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