Test Setup for Supporting Human Implantation of Intracortical Visual Prosthesis Device

Abstract

Earlier experiments in the field of cortical visual prosthesis have shown the possibility of generation of phosphenes. Experiments have been performed with different types of electrodes, researchers have found the stimulation parameters required to elicit a phosphene and they have shown the possibility of targeting different areas of visual cortex to elicit phosphenes. Experiments have not been conducted in which an image was captured and processed in real time, and an array of electrodes stimulated, corresponding to the image, to generate a sense of vision. Development of a prosthetic device faces the crucial question whether a practical number of cortical stimulating electrodes can provide a useful sense of vision. We aim to answer this question by designing a wearable cortical prosthesis device and testing it on blind human volunteers. Before we implant this device in human volunteers, we want to estimate the performance we might expect from a human implantation. We are planning to conduct psychophysical tests on normally-sighted humans and stimulation tests on non-human primates. Results from these experiments will help us understand what we should expect from implantation in a human volunteer.