Visual Prostheses

A collaboration involving Peking University converted dynamic natural movie frames into spatiotemporal patterns of optogenetic stimulation in awake mice, then reconstructed movie frames from responses in the primary visual cortex. Comparing natural viewing with artificial stimulation, they found that stimulation evoked broadly comparable cortical dynamics and aligned representations. A deep learning model reconstructed frames from cortical signals under both conditions. The animal study offers a proof of concept for evaluating how visual cortical prostheses might translate images into stimulation patterns. It does not establish that stimulation produced the corresponding visual experience in mice or restored vision in humans.

The study proposes coating the gold pillar sidewalls of the PRIMA retinal prosthesis with titanium dioxide or platinum while protecting surrounding device regions. The approach combines photolithography and electrodeposition to address tissue contact with exposed gold while preserving surrounding implant functionality. The authors report that both coatings were biocompatible in in-vivo studies and prevented adverse retinal tissue reactions to gold. Titanium dioxide had a lower specific capacitance than platinum, which the authors say better limits sidewall current and directs charge injection mainly through the pillar tops. These findings concern electrode materials and interfaces, not demonstrated improvements in patients' vision from the new coatings.

The Orion visual neuroprosthetic system, originally developed by Second Sight Medical Products, is changing parent companies again, Neurotech Reports said. Vivani Medical has agreed a reverse merger with Nasdaq-listed ClearOne under which its Cortigent unit becomes a wholly owned ClearOne subsidiary; ClearOne will be renamed Cortigent Holdings Inc. and is expected to trade as CRGT. ClearOne agreed as part of the transaction to file a Form S-1 registration statement to raise $10 million to $15 million, and Cortigent plans a pivotal trial of Orion in about 60 patients, though funding remains a challenge.

Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital performed China's first 320-resolution visual BCI implant; a woman blind for nearly 20 years reportedly reads, writes and walks again.

The study involves no implant and tests no device. It asks 50 adults with acquired blindness what existing assistive devices get wrong, and what they would want from a vision-restoration implant. Outcomes span demographics and economics, quality of life, clinical features, satisfaction with current aids, and design requirements for an invasive visual brain-computer interface. Participants must be at least 18, have only weak or no light perception in both eyes, and have lost their sight after birth; congenital blindness is excluded.

In Xiangya Hospital's invasive IMIE smart retina trial, a 61-year-old fully blind patient reportedly reached 0.03 stable and 0.1 best visual acuity, walking indoors unaided.