VISION - Project

Integration of a Neural Electrode for Vision Rehabilitation

Walloon Region of Belgium

« Recherche d'initiative 3 » Program # 114645

The European MIVIP project previously demonstrated the possibility to build a prosthetic device for the transmission of useful visual information to the optic nerve of a blind human suffering from a severe form of retinitis pigmentosa. Extension of this research was subsequently undertaken in the OPTIVIP and in the present project.

A spiral cuff nerve electrode was implanted around the optic nerve of an RP volunteer. The electrode selectivity allowed for stimulating a limited amount of nerve fibers at specific positions within the nerve trunk as controlled by the stimulation parameters. Very low current gave rise to the perception of phosphenes, or visual sensations to be placed in any part of the still fairly broad functional visual field of the patient. Phosphenes could be assembled in recognizable patterns for a person who underwent a suitable training program. However, a more efficient nerve electrode, with more contacts and stimulation protocols, would definitely improve the Optic Nerve Prosthesis.

The VISION project aimed at developing an active nerve electrode to become a element of an improved optic nerve prosthesis. In the VISION nerve electrode, the number of dot electrodes was increased using polymer metallization techniques. The electrical management of these numerous dot electrodes for stimulation purpose was under control of an encapsulated ASIC directly mounted on the cuff. In the VISION project, after carefull assessment of the new optic nerve electrode, its implantation, together with a fully compatible OPTIVIP visual prosthesis, was carried out in a human volunteer.

This four year project started on June 1st 2001 and was completed on October 1, 2006. 

 

The partners involved :

Coordination: Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), Belgium,
  • GREN :Neural Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory
Other partners
  • DICE : Microelectronic Laboratory, Université catholique de Louvain
  • PDES : Solid State Physics Laboratory, Université de Mons-Hainaut
Subcontractor

 

GREN's personnel involved in this project included :

Dr. Jean Delbeke

Medhi Oozeer

Prof. Claude Veraart

 

Main results of Mivip and Optivip projects are available on this Web site.

This neural sensing project is linked to other previous research projects in the laboratory :  MiViP and OPTIVIP , SENS and F.R.S.M. Grant N° 3.4590.02.

Subsequent developments in the field of artificial nerve stimulation were carried out in the frame of the ADVENS and IMANE projects.

 

 

Last update: March 11th, 2007.

This website has been designed by the laboratory with the help of Pierre Dubrulle.

For comments please contact:
Brigitte Dieu < brigitte.dieu@gren.ucl.ac.be >