The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) recently announced the third successful implantation of the Intracortical Visual Prosthesis (ICVP), a wireless visual prosthesis, designed to provide artificial vision to individuals with blindness.
Give me some background on the ICVP.
The ICVP system is the first intracortical visual implant to use a group of fully implanted miniaturized wireless stimulators to explore whether individuals with blindness can utilize the artificial vision provided by this approach.
A major advantage to these devices: They can be permanently implanted, enabling:
- Researchers ample time to explore how the device can effectively work
- Recipients to learn how the device can be useful
And if the idea of this sounds familiar … you may be thinking of ReVision Implant’s iteration of a brain-computer interface (BCI) implant: the Occular system. (They’re definitely not the same, though). Detail on that here.
Noted. So talk about the tech behind this implant.
The ICVP system uses a group of miniature wireless implantable stimulator modules that can communicate image information captured by a video camera directly to the human brain.
Each module, called a wireless floating microelectrode array (WFMA), receives its power and digital commands over a wireless link so that no wires or connectors cross the scalp.
By sending commands to the WFMAs, camera images are communicated directly to the brain, creating a crude visual perception of the image.
- Note: While the perceptions are not like normal vision, they may be of benefit to the user for performing visually guided tasks.
Who is supporting this research project?
The ICVP system was developed by a multi-institution team led by Philip R. Troyk, MS, PhD—executive director of the Pritzker Institute of Biomedical Science and Engineering at IIT, professor of biomedical engineering—that included:
- IIT
- Rush University Medical Center
- University of Texas, Dallas
- Sigenics, Inc.
- Microprobes for Life Science
- Johns Hopkins University
- The Chicago Lighthouse
And when were the prior two implantations?
The first was in 2022 (see here for those details), while the second implantation was reportedly conducted in October 2024.
What is the significance of this latest surgery?
During the preclinical phase, the IIT team worked with Rush University Medical Center neurosurgeons to develop and refine surgical procedures, leading to the most recent successful implantation of 34 stimulators with a total of 544 electrodes in an individual with blindness.
The clinical phase was aimed at testing whether this prosthesis could provide study participants with an improved ability to navigate and perform basic, visually guided tasks.
- Note: There was a phase 1 feasibility study (NCT04634383) of the ICVP that hasn’t been updated since January 2022.
Any comments from the researchers?
“The third successful implantation demonstrates the scalability and robustness of the ICVP system,” Dr. Troyk emphasized.
- “We’re driven by the potential of this technology to restore autonomy and improve the quality of life for individuals living with blindness,” he added. “The novel brain interface technology has potential applications for other neural conditions, including those in the spinal cord, and we are pursuing those as well.”
Check out all the recent news surrounding the ICVP system's clinical development and evaluations.
And the next steps?
Testing for participants will commence at The Chicago Lighthouse’s Hilton Center for Prosthetic Research, which is serving as the research home throughout the ICVP clinical trial.
IIT is actively seeking new participants for ongoing studies, aimed at broadening the understanding and capabilities of artificial vision.
Who can apply?
Volunteers who lost their vision as an adult but who had normal or near-normal vision for at least the first 10 years of life.
Following surgery and approximately 1 month of surgical recovery, participants will be studied for 1-3 years, depending on the date of implantation.
- More information for individuals interested in participating can be found here.
Final thoughts to close.
“For people who are completely blind, even the ability to perceive a small amount of light can profoundly impact their daily lives,” said Janet P. Szlyk, president and CEO of The Chicago Lighthouse.
“The results from this research open doors to transformative advancements in blindness research and vision restoration.”