Seminar
Title: Visual Prostheses for the Blind
Presenter: Shawn K. Kelly, PhD.
Location: Scaide Auditorium at CMU
Refreshments at 4pm.

Abstract:
Several groups worldwide are working to develop visual
prostheses to restore useful functional vision to the blind.  These
devices deliver electrical stimulation to nerves in the visual pathway
(or sometimes other areas, like the tongue) to create the
representation of pixelated images.

The Boston Retinal Implant Project is developing and testing a
chronically-implantable subretinal visual prosthesis that will
stimulate retinal nerves of patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa
and macular degeneration.  We showed the viability of the concept in a
series of six acute epiretinal stimulation trials with blind
volunteers between 1998 and 2000.  We determined that a subretinal
approach provides the safest and most stable placement for the
stimulating electrode array and electronics, and have since pursued a
chronically-implantable subretinal prosthesis that receives power and
data wirelessly.

We have developed several generations of prostheses, progressively
adding functionality, increasing the number of channels, and
assembling the implants into titanium hermetic cases.  We have
surgically implanted three generations of prostheses into Yucatan
minipigs, for up to one year, and are actively developing a device
suitable for clinical trials, which we expect to begin within 2-3
years.  Progress made and hurdles faced by the Boston Retinal Implant
and the visual prosthesis field will be discussed.