Author:
Knudsen Eric B,Zappitelli Kara,Brown Jennifer,Reeder Jonathan,Smith Kevin Sean,Rostov Marat,Choi Jaebin,Rochford Amy,Slager Nate,Miura Satoru K,Rodgers Kyle,Reed Ansel,Lewis Israeli Yonatan R,Shiraga Seton,Seo Kyung Jin,Wolin Corey,Dawson Paul,Eltaeb Mohamed,Dasgupta Arvind,Rothman Max,Yoon Eugene,Chong Paul,Charles Seleipiri,Stewart Jay M.,Silva Ruwan A,Kim Tyson,Kong Yifan,Mardinly Alan R,Hodak Max
Abstract
AbstractRetinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration lead to photoreceptor death and loss of visual perception. Despite recent progress, restorative technologies for photoreceptor degeneration remain largely unavailable. Here, we describe a novel optogenetic visual prosthesis (FlexLED) based on a combination of a thin-film retinal display and optogenetic activation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The FlexLED implant is a 30 µm thin, flexible, wireless µLED display with 8,192 pixels, each with an emission area of 66 µm2. The display is affixed to the retinal surface, and the electronics package is mounted under the conjunctiva in the form factor of a conventional glaucoma drainage implant. In a rabbit model of photoreceptor degeneration, optical stimulation of the retina using the FlexLED elicits activity in visual cortex. This technology is readily scalable to hundreds of thousands of pixels, providing a route towards an implantable optogenetic visual prosthesis capable of generating vision by stimulating RGCs at near-cellular resolution.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory