Biohybrid Retinal Implant: Research and Development Update in 2005

Abstract

Since the mid-90's, our research group has been developing a biohybrid retinal implant, which is a visual prosthesis that combines microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology and regenerative medicine. In this implant, the neural axons attached on the MEMS are guided toward the central nervous system (CNS) by a peripheral nerve graft. Because neurons form functional connections between the MEMS and the CNS, electrical stimulation causes the neurons in the biohybrid retinal implant to send visual information to the CNS. Our recent research has included the first prototype of bio-MEMS, the development of various micro/nanoelectrode arrays, in vitro nerve cell culture and axon guidance experiments on the fabricated electrode array, in vivo electrical stimulation experiments, and various computer simulations including the psychophysical evaluation of reading ability with a visual prosthesis simulator