Retinal Implant Receives USFDA Approval

By Admin
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first retinal implant for use in the US. The implant, Second Sights Argus II Retinal Prosthesis Syst...

 

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first retinal implant for use in the US. The implant, Second Sight’s Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, gives hope to those blinded by a rare genetic eye condition called advanced retinitis pigmentosa, which damages the light-sensitive cells that line the retina.

Second Sight went through 20 years of development, two clinical trials and more than $200 million in funding—half from the National Eye Institute, the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, and the rest from private investors, before achieving FDA approval. The Argus II has been approved for use in Europe since 2011 and implanted in 30 clinical-trial patients since 2007. The FDA’s Ophthalmic Devices Advisory Panel in September 2012 voted unanimously to recommend approval.

The Argus II includes a small video camera, a transmitter mounted on a pair of eyeglasses, a video processing unit and a 60-electrode implanted retinal prosthesis that replaces the function of degenerated cells in the retina, the membrane lining the inside of the eye.

Although it does not fully restore vision, this setup can improve a patient’s ability to perceive images and movement, using the video processing unit to transform images from the video camera into electronic data that is wirelessly transmitted to the retinal prosthesis.

The company plans to make the Argus II available later this year in clinical centers throughout the US, cultivate a network of surgeons who can implant the device and recruit hospitals to offer it.

 

 

Share
Share

Featured Articles

Mental health support for working women and mothers

Dr. Kylie Bennett, Mental Health Program Director at Dialogue, is committed to supporting women in the workplace - especially Mothers - and their health

Digital evolution delivers better healthcare outcomes

Hannah Graham, Group Account Director at digital transformation consultancy Equator, shares how digitisation is building positive changes in healthcare

Hyfe AI uses acoustic AI in its digital cough monitoring

Hyfe uses acoustic AI in its digital cough monitoring. Dr. Joe Brew, Co-Founder & CEO of Hyfe AI, tells us more about coughing technology post-COVID-19

Siemens: smart finance to help medical technology growth

Technology & AI

Healthcare Digital news roundup: prostate cancer & AI

Medical Devices & Pharma

Lexica shares post-COVID-19 digital healthcare trends

Digital Healthcare