Blind people can now "see" using their tongue, thanks to a device approved by the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday.
The BrainPort V100, developed by Wicab Inc., a Wisconsin-based company, is a gadget that has a camera, a pair of glasses, and a device that goes inside the mouth.
It allows blind people to see by translating visual information captured by the camera into a subtle electrical impulse on the tongue.
As a result, the users can interpret these impulses that allow them to "see" the location and size of the objects, as well as inform them of the direction that they're heading in.
According to a report from the Washington Post, the company claims the device has a lifespan of several hours when fully charged. Furthermore, BrainPort V100 is meant to be an additional form of assistance and not a replacement for other tested methods such as a guide dog or using a cane.
"Medical device innovations like this have the potential to help millions of people," said William Maisel, FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health's chief scientist in an official press release.
He added that more innovations should be developed to help blind Americans lead a better quality of life.
Based on test results of the device, 69 percent of 74 test subjects had the ability to "see" objects while using BrainPort.
However, it was reported that some patients experienced a burning sensation or a metallic taste when they had the device inside their mouths. Still, the FDA confirms that no serious effects caused by the device were found.
The Empire State Tribune reports that in 2013, the device was allowed to be sold in Europe following a research of 15 years. With the recent approval from the U.S. FDA, the device can now be used by blind people in America, and could help the 1.2 million blind in the nation, according to the National Institutes of Health.
