Artificial vision for the blind: design and fabrication of a high-resolution neural prosthesis for chronic stimulation of the visual cortex

Worldwide, there are as many visually impaired people as hearing impaired. Still, no high-technological solution exists for these people, comparable to cochlear implants. This project aims at filling this scientific knowledge gap, and relieving the clinical needs of these people, by the design of a visual cortical implant. A first step consists in the design and fabrication of a high-resolution, biocompatible implant with thousands of electrodes. A second step is the interconnect of these electrodes to an, already developed, ASIC suited for high-channel neural stimulation, and the biocompatible assembly packaging. A third step is the transcutaneous control of this ASIC, and the development of the external system, including camera and basic signal processing software. The fourth and final step is the use of this complete prosthesis for gradual tests on neural stimulation of the visual cortex, eventually on non-human primates.