A method and technical equipment for an acute human trial to evaluate retinal implant technology.
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.
Hornig
Ralf
R
IIP Technologies GmbH, Bonn, Germany.
Laube
Thomas
T
Walter
Peter
P
Velikay-Parel
Michaela
M
Bornfeld
Norbert
N
Feucht
Matthias
M
Akguel
Harun
H
Rössler
Gernot
G
Alteheld
Nils
N
Lütke Notarp
Dietmar
D
Wyatt
John
J
Richard
Gisbert
G
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