The Phoenix 99 retinal implant originated from the efforts of Bionic Vision Australia (BVA), a consortium established in 2010 to advance bionic eye technology in Australia. Initially developed within BVA's collaborative framework, the implant was part of a broader initiative to restore vision for individuals with degenerative retinal conditions like retinitis pigmentosa. During its early stages, the implant underwent preclinical testing at UNSW Australia as part of BVA's research program. After BVA's funding concluded in 2016, Prof. Gregg Suaning and his team at the University of Sydney continued to develop the technology, ultimately leading to the Phoenix 99.

The Phoenix 99 is fully implantable, featuring 99 electrodes arranged in a unique hexagonal mosaic pattern, where each cluster consists of seven electrodes: a central stimulating electrode surrounded by six electrodes that serve as the return path for the current (Layton et al., 2017). This configuration, known as hexapolar stimulation, effectively limits current spread and reduces "cross-talk" between stimulation sites, allowing multiple hexagons to be stimulated simultaneously. The implant combines this focused activation with a novel 'quasi-monopolar' stimulation (QMP) approach, which concurrently delivers sub-threshold monopolar and low-amplitude hexapolar stimulation to reduce the activation threshold while maintaining focused stimulation. The device’s stimulation circuitry is contained within a hermetically sealed chamber and wirelessly configured by external image processing hardware. Successful preclinical trials have demonstrated its safety and potential efficacy, establishing it as a promising candidate for future clinical testing in human patients.

Home Institution

• University of Sydney

  Sydney, Australia

Device Specifications

• Number of electrodes: 99