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An important milestone has been reached in the sphere of retinal implants. The firm Retina Implant AG, a developer of subretinal impants has just been awarded the forst European regulatory certification of the company for their Alpha IMS device.
The implant has been in trials for the last eight years and can now aid patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa. The device is wireless and to date 36 patients have been fitted with the microchip which measures only 3x3 mm2 and contains fifteen hundred electrodes. The patients have been reported to be able to recognise faces and read information signs on doors following the implant beneath the retina, already vastly improving the quality of life of each of the patients involved in the study.
The founding director of the Institute for Ophthalmic Research at the Centre for Ophthalmology of the University of Tuebingen has said "This is a landmark in our journey to address the needs of the RP patient community which has limited treatment options available."