title: A method and technical equipment for an acute human trial to evaluate retinal implant technology.
abstract: This paper reports on methods and technical equipment to investigate the epiretinal stimulation of the retina in blind human subjects in acute trials. Current is applied to the retina through a thin, flexible microcontact film (microelectrode array) with electrode diameters ranging from 50 to 360 microm. The film is mounted in a custom-designed surgical tool that is hand-held by the surgeon during stimulation. The eventual goal of the work is the development of a chronically implantable retinal prosthesis to restore a useful level of vision to patients who are blind with outer retinal degenerations, specifically retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration.
authors.affiliation: IIP Technologies GmbH, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hornig
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laube
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velikay-Parel
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bornfeld
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feucht
authors.forename: Harun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akguel
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rössler
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alteheld
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lütke Notarp
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: Gisbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Richard
mesh_terms: D001766:Blindness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008839:Microelectrodes; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000379:methods