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350 people cured of blindness by bionic eye firm face losing their sight AGAIN as firm goes bust: One customer's implant beeped as she walked through NYC subway - then went dark
Daily Mail ^

Posted on 02/17/2022 9:40:02 PM PST by algore

A bionic eye firm that went out of business following the onset of COVID-19 has left people using their retinal technology blind if the implants malfunction

The firm, LA-based Second Sight, discontinued its implant hardware in 2019, and reportedly let go of it's staff in the early months of the pandemic in 2020

It's 350-plus worldwide patients were then left with obsolete and unsupported retinal implants

The hardware cost about $500,000 per patient in total, with 80 percent covered by insurance

Barbara Campbell's Argus II retinal implant system stopped working as she made her way to transfer trains during rush hour

Second Sight went public in June 2021 after discontinuing their retinal implant and nearly declaring bankruptcy, raising $57.5 million at $5 per share

However, its stock price plunged to around $1.50 in the ensuing months, and in February 2022 announced a proposed merger with biopharmaceutical company

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: bionic; eyes
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How long should companies have to support legacy hardware ?

I mean I wish my Windows Phone and RT device still worked

(actually they do kinda) but my "plays for sure" device doesn't and Windows 95 has not gotten patches in like forever it seems

1 posted on 02/17/2022 9:40:02 PM PST by algore
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To: algore

For medical devices, there should at least be a due date if there is a risk that it might stop operating.

At least give them a chance to get it dealt with.


2 posted on 02/17/2022 9:43:06 PM PST by Jonty30 (How can you claim to help me with my healthcare costs when you can't pay for your own?)
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To: algore
I've been waiting on an update for DOS 6.22. 😐
3 posted on 02/17/2022 9:45:53 PM PST by Bikkuri (I am proud to be a PureBlood.)
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To: algore

4 posted on 02/17/2022 10:00:58 PM PST by gundog ( It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: Bikkuri

It is called dos box

Highly recommended

https://www.dosbox.com/download.php?main=1


5 posted on 02/17/2022 10:01:13 PM PST by algore
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To: algore

this is a critical medical device, not a phone that you can go a few blocks to another store and get a replacement easily


6 posted on 02/17/2022 10:14:33 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: algore

If only there were some sort of tech industry software-type people here in America, maybe with unlimited funds who could fix this over the weekend.

I won’t hold my breath. Selfish picks won’t do a thing unless it hurts America, or makes them rich. And god only knows how much money Fauci pissed away in China with his Dr. Mengele experiments.


7 posted on 02/17/2022 10:18:18 PM PST by DesertRhino (Dogs are called man's best friend. Moslems hate dogs. Add it up....)
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To: Secret Agent Man

How long should these devices be supported?

What happens if the company ceases to exist?

These are the questions I ask you to answer


8 posted on 02/17/2022 10:19:31 PM PST by algore
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To: Jonty30

For automobiles parts availability is for up to 17 years in Sweden (had a Saab when they went bust). Yet one more needless bankruptcy caused by bad government policy.


9 posted on 02/17/2022 10:23:58 PM PST by packagingguy
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To: algore

I sincerely hope you’re joking. You want updates for a super-sh*tty OS from Microsoft (but I repeat myself) released thirty years ago?


10 posted on 02/17/2022 10:27:14 PM PST by dinodino ( )
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To: algore

Federal government is loaded. So you think the company would benefit from a grant from NIH. But we know that NIH is not always reliable and they may be political in their decisions when it comes to grants.


11 posted on 02/17/2022 10:30:56 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: algore

These are things that need to be set forth in contracts with the people buying these devices, well beforehand.

Its not like other medical device companies don’t have service plans and upgrade paths and usually when its an implant they want to check on it periodically, or you know you have to come in because for example a battery needs to be replaced after x years.

Medical device companies have extra hoops tgey have to jump through because of the nature of the products, especially implantable medical devices. I’ve worked for some, andmso hafe my relatives. Generally they have things put in place to not leave people using critical devices high and dry.


12 posted on 02/17/2022 10:33:29 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: DesertRhino

The medical community as a whole does not really care about people.

Individual doctors no doubt do, but the callousness of the establishment as a whole has been clearly revealed.

And I have even seen it becoming more and more obvious by the day. Many people I have talked to have been having issues with getting treatment for stuff by their local providers.

We are near a large, well known medical establishment that I had high hopes for because of its reputation. Never have I seen such apathy and incompetence in my life and I have dealt with more than enough doctors in my life.

I’ve seen more thorough well child check ups than the last two “physicals” I have gotten. There is no way in heck they’d even begin to catch something serious and your “physical “ is nothing more than an interview.


13 posted on 02/17/2022 10:43:01 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith….)
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To: metmom

You are so right. We are just entries in a computer that get them paid now.


14 posted on 02/17/2022 11:07:14 PM PST by SaxxonWoods ("If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies in yourself." - Minquass)
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To: Jonty30

> ‘It is fantastic technology and a lousy company,’ another Second Sight patient, Ross Doerr said.

Lousy company is putting it lightly. They sold technology that cures blindness and they went bankrupt.


15 posted on 02/18/2022 12:01:44 AM PST by ArcadeQuarters (Remember the 2020 backstabbers. No more RINOs ever!)
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To: algore
How long should these devices be supported?

Well, according to liberals health care is a “right”, so I guess we need to enslave everyone who works for that company and force them to keep manufacturing whatever is needed by these unfortunate patients. To do any less, would be to deny them their “rights.”

16 posted on 02/18/2022 12:55:27 AM PST by noiseman (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: metmom
The medical community as a whole does not really care about people. Individual doctors no doubt do, but the callousness of the establishment as a whole has been clearly revealed.

Yep. Because we took it from Christ and handed it to Mammon.

Remember the good old days when hospitals were named "Holy Redeemer" or "Presbyterian" or "Methodist"...and they actually took that seriously?

17 posted on 02/18/2022 1:14:49 AM PST by Claud
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To: Claud

Yes, I do.


18 posted on 02/18/2022 4:23:56 AM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith….)
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To: DesertRhino

This sounds like something that could benefit from the philanthropy of Melinda Gates or Mackenzie Bezos (now Scott) as the two ex-wives hand out money all over the place.


19 posted on 02/18/2022 4:31:29 AM PST by Cecily
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To: algore

nothing is guaranteed in life but taxes and death.

No, really there are dozens of possibilities that could have precipitated this.


20 posted on 02/18/2022 6:50:28 AM PST by jimfr
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