Development of a Chronically Implantable Retinal Prothesis

[20186 . 06]这个研究项目是为了开发和测试一种原型假体装置，为患有视网膜疾病的盲人恢复一些有用的视力。研究人员将运用他们的微制造技术和外科专业知识来开发一种假体，这种假体可以在几个月或几年的时间内成功植入，而不会影响眼睛周围脆弱的组织。这种可充气的无线假肢将通过射频传输从体外接收能量。一种新型的低功耗电路正在为植入物开发，以减少眼睛的热效应。这种薄硅电路是植入物的组成部分，它将把简单的图案传输到位于灵活的蜘蛛状“手臂”上的一系列刺激电极上，这些电极可以折叠起来，通过眼睛上的一个小切口插入。一旦进入眼睛，它们就可以膨胀，附着在更大的视网膜上。另一项平行研究将开发封装技术，以保护这些植入物不受体液的侵害。该项目由美国国家科学基金会（NSF）和退伍军人事务部（DVA）根据2002年4月19日签署的协议共同资助。这项研究将在麻省理工学院（MIT）和康奈尔大学纳米制造设施进行。不同版本的原型植入物的测试将在麻省理工学院和位于马萨诸塞州波士顿的DVA医疗中心的DVA创新视觉康复中心进行。

0201861WyattThis research project is to develop and test a prototype prosthetic device for restoring some useful vision to blind humans who have retinal disease. The investigators will apply their microfabrication and surgical expertise to the development of a prosthesis, which can be successfully implanted for a period of months or years without affecting the delicate surrounding tissue in the eye. The wireless, inflatable prosthesis is to receive its power from outside the body by radio frequency transmission. A new form of low-power circuitry is to be developed for the implant to reduce heating effects in the eye. This thin silicon circuit, integral to the implant, will transmit simple patterns to an array of stimulating electrodes located on flexible, spider-like 'arms' which are to be folded-up for insertion through a small incision in the eye. Once inside the eye they can then be inflated for attachment to a larger area of retina. A parallel effort will develop encapsulation technology to protect these implants from bodily fluids. This project is jointly funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) under the terms of a Letter of Agreement of April 19, 2002. The research will be conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Cornell University Nanofabrication Facility. Testing of the various versions of the prototype implant is to be done at MIT and the DVA Center for Innovative Visual Rehabilitation in the DVA Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.