The MiViP optic nerve visual prosthesis uses a self-sizing spiral cuff electrode to electrically stimulate the optic nerve and thus create the perception of phosphenes.

A 6.mm-long, 4-contact, custom-made cuff electrode was implanted in a blind volunteer in February 1998. The electrode around the optic nerve stimulated one or more of four quadrants to yield localized phosphenes broadly distributed throughout the visual field.

Using this first known implant of an active optic nerve prosthesis, the Neural Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory is investigating tentative rehabilitation of vision for people blinded by retinitis pigmentosa.

The basic components of the MiViP prosthesis are either implanted (spiral cuff electrode, neurostimulator, and implanted antenna) or external (miniature video camera, external processor, and external antenna). So far, the implanted materials have proven to be biocompatible and functional in the biological environment, and telemetry was found to be efficient in controlling the delivery of suitable electrical stimulation on the optic nerve.

Home Institution

• Catholic University of Louvain

  Brussels, Belgium

Milestones

• 1998: First patient implanted

Device Specifications

• Number of electrodes: 4
• Image processor location: external