Institute for Ophthalmic Research

Recent publication on groundbreaking performance of the Tübingen Subretinal Implant

In the scope of our ongoing research activities in the development of an subretinal for the artificial restoration of vision, we were able to show for the first time that a light sensitive electronic chip, implanted under the retina, can restore useful vision in patients blind from hereditary retinal degeneration by means of an array with 1.500 pixels. Previously blind patients can again locate tableware and localize and approach large objects. One patient was able to discern 7 shades of grey, read the hands of a clock and combine the letters of the alphabet to words. This study proves that subretinal microelectrode arrays can create meaningful visual perception and some freedom of movement and orientation in previously blind individuals.

Please read the full article published in the Procedings of the Royal Society

http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/11/01/rspb.201...

A set of 9 video clips showing the performance of our patients

http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/11/01/rspb.201...

Supplementary information accompanying the publication may be downloaded from

http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/suppl/2010/11/02/rspb.2010.1747.DC1/rspb20101747supp1.pdf  (PDF, 1 MB)

 

Official press release of the University Hopsital Tübingen (German)

„Das in der klinischen Studie verwendete Implantat ist das Ergebnis der langjährigen Zusammenarbeit der Universitätsaugenkliniken Tübingen und Regensburg, dem Institut für Mikroelektronik in Stuttgart (IMS), dem NMI sowie den Firmen Retina Implant AG und der ebenfalls in Reutlingen ansässigen Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH. MCS lieferte die externe Ansteuerelektronik für den vom IMS entwickelten und gefertigten Chip. Das NMI ist seit 15 Jahren an der Entwicklung des subretinalen Netzhautchips beteiligt. Neben den technischen Entwicklungen von Mikroelektroden für die sichere Langzeitstimulation, biostabilen Schutzschichten und flexiblen Mikroleiterbahnen wurden von Anfang an biophysikalische Untersuchungen zur elektrischen Netzhautstimulation durchgeführt. So wurden als Vorgaben für die Auslegung des Chips die geeigneten Reizstärken zur Netzhauterregung und sinnvolle Abstände der 1500 Stimulationselektroden ermittelt. „

English:

"The implant used in this clinical study is the result of an ongoing, long-term cooperation of the University Eye Hospitals in Tübingen and Regensburg, the Institute for Microelectronics in Stuttgart (IMS), the Natural and Medical Sciences Institute (NMI) in Reutlingen as well as the Retina Implant AG and Multi Channel Systems (MCS), both located in Reutlingen. MCS the external control electronics for the chip which was developed and produces by IMS. The NMI has been involved in the subretinal implant since 15 years. Apart from the technical development of electrodes for safe long-term stimulationm biostable coating materials and flexible conducting matrials, NMI has been conducting biophysical research for electrical retinal stimulation. This provided guidelines for the design of the implant, feasible stimulus strenths for retinal stimulation, and for reasonable distances between the 1500 stimulating electrodes.

Radio feature on the Retina Implant Chip

Listen to the german radio feature "Der Abend" (SWR 1) about the Retina Implant chip and to an interview with its co-inventor Prof. Eberhart Zrenner or download the radio show as mp3-file - the segment about the Retina Implant Chips starts at 10:58 [min:sec].