gms | German Medical Science

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a cortical visual prosthesis using intracortical microelectrodes in enhancing the orientation and mobility of individuals with profoundly blind.

Materials and Methods: Three participants were evaluated. Neural activity was monitored, and psychometric assessments conducted to assess the stability of their perceptions across various mobility conditions. Eye-tracking calibration was performed, and visual function measured using standard tests. Participants engaged in object detection tasks and daily living activities. Obstacle avoidance was tested in both virtual and real-world environments. Navigation routes were assessed both indoors and outdoors.

Results: The intracortical microelectrodes significantly enhanced orientation and mobility, enabling participants to detect objects, perform daily tasks, and navigate obstacle courses with enhanced accuracy. Performance metrics including time, collision rates, and detection accuracy showed marked improvements over time.

Discussion: These results, although preliminary, suggest that a cortical visual prosthesis utilizing intracortical microelectrodes may enhance the orientation and mobility of individuals with visual impairments. However, further studies are necessary to validate the potential benefits of this technology.

Acknowledgment: This work was supported in part by grants DTS19/00175 and PDC2022-133952-100 from the Spanish “Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades” and by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 899287 (NeuraViPeR). There are no commercial relationships.