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Surgical feasibility and biocompatibility of wide-field dual-array suprachoroidal–transretinal stimulation prosthesis in middle-sized animals

  • Retinal Disorders
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the safety and efficacy of a newly-developed wide-field dual-array suprachoroidal–transretinal stimulation (STS) prosthesis in middle-sized animals.

Methods

The prosthesis consisted of two arrays with 50 to 74 electrodes. To test the feasibility of implanting the prosthesis and its efficacy, the prosthesis was implanted for 14 days into two rabbits. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and ophthalmoscopy were performed 7 and 14 days after the implantation. Then the rabbits were euthanized, eyes were enucleated, and the posterior segment of the eye was examined histologically. In a second experiment, the arrays were implanted into two cats, and their ability to elicit neural responses was determined by electrically evoked potentials (EEPs) at the chiasm and by optical imaging of the retina.

Results

All arrays were successfully implanted, and no major complications occurred during the surgery or during the 2-week postoperative period. Neither OCT nor ophthalmoscopy showed any major complications or instability of the arrays. Histological evaluations showed only mild cellular infiltration and overall good retinal preservation. Stimulation of the retina by the arrays evoked EEPs recorded from the chiasm. Retinal imaging showed that the electrical pulses from the arrays altered the retinal images indicating an activation of retinal neurons. The thresholds were as low as 100 μA for a chiasm response and 300 μA for the retinal imaging.

Conclusion

Implantation of a newly-developed dual-array STS prosthesis for 2 weeks in rabbits was feasible surgically, and safe. The results of retinal imaging showed that the dual-array system was able to activate retinal neurons. We conclude that the dual-array design can be implanted without complication and is able to activate retinal neurons and optic nerve axons.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Vision Institution of the Nidek Co., Ltd., Japan, for their help and contribution.

The authors (TKL, TM, TE, TM, KN, MK, PW) certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge, or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

HK and TF have grant/research support from NIDEK Company

Supported by the Translational Research Network Program from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. and by Asian CORE Program, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Visual Science, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

    Tibor Karl Lohmann, Hiroyuki Kanda, Takeshi Morimoto & Takashi Fujikado

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan

    Takao Endo, Kentaro Nishida & Motohiro Kamei

  3. Department of Integrative Physiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan

    Tomomitsu Miyoshi

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

    Tibor Karl Lohmann & Peter Walter

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  1. Tibor Karl Lohmann
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  2. Hiroyuki Kanda
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  3. Takeshi Morimoto
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  9. Takashi Fujikado
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Correspondence to Takashi Fujikado.

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Lohmann, T.K., Kanda, H., Morimoto, T. et al. Surgical feasibility and biocompatibility of wide-field dual-array suprachoroidal–transretinal stimulation prosthesis in middle-sized animals. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 254, 661–673 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-015-3104-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-015-3104-1

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