41) ____________. The synthetic (合成的) polymer (聚合的) device is the first flexible hydrophilie (吸水的) artificial cornea to be produced and inserted into a human. It is the product of 8 years work by researchers at the Lions Eye Institute of the University of WA'S Department of Ophthalmic Biomaterials.
42) ____________. "First, the plastic material used to construct the artificial cornea absorbs water and becomes elastic and soft like human tissue." Prof. Chirial told Australian Science. "A second novel characteristic is that the periphery (外围) is a sponge with pores allowing host tissue to grow into it. Third, the device uses interpenetrating (渗透) polymer networks to link the central transparent area with the non-transparent periphery."
43) ____________.
The first recipient (接纳者)of the device, a 79-year-old WA man who was blind in one eye, can now read large print. A further eight patients are awaiting the technically challenging two-step procedure, with the first due to be operated on this month.
44) ____________. Many patients admitted to the trial have experienced rejection of previous human corneal grafts due to an immune reaction or medical syndrome. In others who have had a chemical burn to an eye, the artificial graft offers their only hope of restored vision.
A senior opthalmologist with the team, Dr. Geoffrey Crawford, said the artificial cornea was a promising development for people in underdeveloped countries where an absence of eye banks meant that less than 1% of those needing a human corneal graft ever get one. 45) ____________.
[A] It is novel in three ways according to its designer, Romanian-trained polymer chemist Professor Trainan Chirial, who set up the department in 1986.
[B] The device is designed to replace a diseased or damaged cornea or a failed human graft and can give back sight to some patients.
[C] The artificial cornea was made from a transparent matrix of collagen and a synthetic polymer.
[D] Before the device can be marketed, an international trial of at least 50 patients in five centers worldwide needs to be completed successfully.
[E] However, he conceded that the cost of the device would need to fall dramatically for it to be used in any widespread way.
[F] He explained that material in the center and periphery have an identical chemical composition but are produced by different chemical processes, hence their different light-transmitting qualities.
[G] Western Australian researchers have patented an artificial cornea with the potential to benefit blind or partially sighted individuals worldwide.