Spatial Fitting by Percept Location Tracking

Unmet Need
Visual prostheses are implanted devices in the back of the eye that are used to restore visual function to individuals suffering from complete blindness or bare light perception. The device works through interaction with the remaining nerve cells in the retina, and to get the signals to the brain it requires a functional optic nerve. A complex issue when first turning on these devices is the implementation of spatial fitting. Spatial fitting means creating a correspondence between the location of what is seen via the prosthesis and its true location in space. If this is not done, people using a visual prosthesis can see objects using the implant, but they have difficulty registering where the object is located. This is critical:  If patients have an expensive visual prosthesis that is not properly calibrated, the efficiency of the device is significantly diminished.
 
Technology Overview
The present invention is an improved spatial fitting and training system for a visual prosthesis. The system of the present invention maps projected locations of percepts (PLP), where a person perceives a percept from a visual prosthesis, to the intended location of the percepts. The projected location may vary over time. The test results collected under this invention can be used to correct a visual percept by spatially remapping it in the visual prosthesis. While a patient can be initially fitted on the basis of photos showing where the prosthesis is located on the retina, correcting the error the PLPs in a single session and continuing to adjust the change in PLP from time to time provides for a more accurate fit of the patient.
 
Stage of Development
A patent application for Spatial Fitting by Percept Location Tracking has been filed including schematics and experimental data with analysis. The data given shows the improvement in mapping by the visual prosthesis using the invention.
 
Publications
Schiller PH, et al. Perception 37, 1529-1559

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