Visual Prosthetic Device

About

Background:  Presently, there is no cure for many types of vision impairment due to retinal disease and dysfunction (e.g. macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa). A handful of implantable retinal prosthetic devices have shown restorative potential in clinical studies, however, none currently provides native visual resolution. The present technology leverages the ability to create high-density arrays of nanoscale light conducting waveguides capable of converting incident light into electrical signals, mimicking the natural function of the retina. Devices based on this technology are envisioned as a replacement for retinal function in a variety of disease states. Age related macular degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the industrialized world, affecting approximately 10% of the US population 65-74 years of age and 25% of those 75 and older1, providing a significant and growing market opportunity. 1 Arch Ophthalmol. 121:1621-4 (2003).  Features and Benefits / Advantages: ♦ Nanoscale waveguide technology permits photoreceptor densities many orders of magnitude  higher than the closest known competitor and 10 times greater than the healthy human eye.  ♦ Waveguide physical properties can be readily customized to control both the photonic and  electronic behavior of the implant array, permitting a wide range of development opportunities.  ♦ This technology has the potential to be fully implantable with no requirement for external power  supply or signal processing.  Potential Applications: ♦ Retinal implant for the treatment of vision loss.  ♦ Implantable technology to enhance the range of perceptible wavelengths (e.g. Infrared) and/or  the inherent resolution of native visual reception.  Stage of Development:   Early. Proof of concept for individual waveguide elements has been published.