Science Corporation Implants Vision-Restoring PRIMA Chip In First Stargardt Patient
· Technology · TechCrunch
Science Corporation has successfully implanted its PRIMA vision-restoring chip into a patient diagnosed with Stargardt disease, an incurable condition that causes gradual central vision loss. The procedure took place in May at the Sydney Eye Hospital in Australia as part of an ongoing clinical trial. During rehabilitation, the patient demonstrated the ability to identify letters and read words using the device, which functions as an artificial photoreceptor. The two-millimeter-by-two-millimeter chip is placed under the retina and works in conjunction with camera-equipped glasses to transmit visual signals to the brain. CEO Max Hodak stated that while the device currently offers a limited field of view, it aims to restore vision by stimulating the optic nerve.
Why it matters
This development offers a potential pathway to restore sight for approximately 150,000 people worldwide suffering from Stargardt disease, a condition currently considered incurable. It also marks a significant expansion of brain-computer interface technology from motor control into sensory restoration.
Read the original report — TechCrunch
Join us on Telegram
Breaking news the moment it lands. At 10,000 members we ship the Android app.