Early tests of the new implant show encouraging results.
One of Neuralink’s biggest rivals, Science Corporation, recently conducted an important clinical trial in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Although those affected had peripheral vision, they developed blind spots in their central vision, making it difficult to read, recognize faces, and see in low-light conditions. Participants were blinded according to the rules in force in the United States. During the research, patients received a new eye implant; the Californian company reported promising results.
Max Hodak, CEO of Science Corporation and former president of Neuralink, said he was shocked when he first saw a video of a blind patient reading with the help of the implant. After Hodak left Neuralink in 2021, he bought the technology from a company called Pixium Vision.
The implant, named Prima, consists of a 2 mm square chip that is placed under the retina during an 80-minute surgical procedure. A pair of glasses equipped with a camera captures the image you see and then emits infrared light patterns onto the chip, which has 378 light-powered pixels.
The chip basically works like a tiny solar cell: it converts light into electrical signals that go directly to the brain. The brain interprets these signals as images, thereby simulating natural vision.
According to Hodak, Prima differs from previous retinal implants in that it can detect shapes, patterns and other visual elements. However, it is important to note that the vision is still only partial; users do not perceive color, they only see images with a yellowish tint.
“Among the various chip implantation technologies that have been tried so far, this is one of the most stable solutions. However, we do not yet know how useful it will be for people in everyday use.”
– said Sunir Garg, an ophthalmologist at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.
According to Garg, there is a huge need for a device that works well, as some estimates suggest that more than 20 million people in the United States alone suffer from age-related macular degeneration, and that number is expected to increase significantly over the next 20 years.
Source: www.pcwplus.hu
