Retinal Implantation Device

Unmet Need
Millions of people around the world suffer from retinal degenerative diseases at varying degrees of vision loss. Common to all retinal degenerative diseases is the damage to photoreceptor cells of the retina, which malfunction and disappear. Current treatments can begin with trying to “rescue” remaining photoreceptors. Unfortunately this strategy won’t be successful if too many photoreceptors are affected due to late diagnosis. This makes photoreceptor transplantation a potential treatment for patients who have lost vision due to this disease, whether it be age related or inherited retinal degenerations. Unfortunately with this method as well, there are many surgical and post-operative complications due to the method of delivery. These complications, from retinal incisions to get to the target space, include bleeding, scarring, retinal detachment, and inaccurate off-target delivery of photoreceptor cells. There is a need for a methodology, whether it be a new technology or a new protocol, that is accurate, precise, and patient comfort oriented.  
 
Technology Overview
The inventors have proposed a design for a surgical device and new protocol for the delivery of retinal stem cells to the subretinal space. They have developed a novel delivery platform to access the subretinal space through the trans-scleral side, different from the current retinal incision methodology. This device features an optical tomography-based imaging device to be able to view the currently opaque sclera. It includes a novel flexible cannula and injector system that safely navigates this propagation tunnel. Furthermore, it consists of a microfluidic platform to lift the product of the injector without touching, improving on the current plunger system that exerts force and risks damaging the region. This new surgical device and system for the device address all the problems of accuracy, precision, repeatability, and patient comfort while circumventing the high rate of complications that occur in these procedures.
 
Stage of Development
The inventors have proposed a novel retinal implantation device with a corresponding novel protocol to perform the surgery. They plan improve on their design as they develop their prototype.
 

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