Nanochap's High-Resolution Artificial Retina - Crab-Eating Monkey Grabbing Task Probe Achieves Milestone Results

Based on years of in-depth work in the field of brain-computer interface technology, Nanochap has successfully developed a high-resolution artificial retina that aims to bring hope for the blind and visually impaired to recover their vision.

Product Overview: High Resolution Artificial Retina

Nanochap's high-resolution artificial retina converts captured image signals into neuroelectric signals through an in vitro image acquisition device. These signals are then wirelessly transmitted to a high-density stimulation chip inside the eye and delivered to the brain via a sophisticated electrode array, enabling image reconstruction in the brain.

The product utilizes an advanced miniature hermetically sealed package that can be implanted in a single fundus surgery, greatly reducing the risk and complexity of the procedure. With its 320 signal channels, the system significantly improves visual resolution and offers significant visual function improvement for blind and center vision loss patients.

Research Achievements

After more than ten years of unremitting efforts, Nanochap has made significant progress in the fields of stimulation chips, electrode arrays and brain-machine implants. In November of this year, the company successfully implanted a 320-channel artificial retina for a crab-eating monkey, which subsequently demonstrated functional visual recovery in behavioral experiments and successfully completed an object grasping task.

Principles of the technology

1.    Electrode implantation: An array of tiny electrodes (implants) is implanted in the eyeball of the crab-eating monkey, which are capable of precisely transmitting electrical signals to specific neurons.

2.    Signal encoding and decoding: Using advanced algorithms, the image information captured by the external camera is converted into neuroelectric signals and sent to the brain through the implant.

3.    Visual reconstruction: When the brain receives the electrical signals from the implant, it can realize “visual” perception even without the participation of real eyes.

Through this technique, the monkey is able to perceive optical illusions produced by electrical stimulation of its retina. By adjusting the stimulation parameters, the position, size and shape of these light spots can be precisely controlled to create the outline of the object in the brain.

In the experimental setting, we immobilized multiple white spheres on a black background cloth, and images of these spheres were converted into electrical stimulation signals by means of a high-resolution artificial retina. These signals were precisely delivered to the visual cortex of the crab-eating monkeys, enabling them to perceive and localize the small balls, and eventually successfully grasp them.

Advantages and significance of the product

1.    High spatial resolution: 320 programmable stimulation channels are integrated in an area of 3mm×3mm, which is the leading channel density in the world.

2.    High-precision conversion: the conversion precision between image signal and electrical signal reaches 0.5μA, ensuring the accurate transmission of image information.

3.    Precise stimulation control: The electrode spacing is 100μm, which, together with the current-guided control technology, realizes precise control of the electric field parameters, thus accurately stimulating the nerve cells.

The experimental result of the successful grasping of the object by the crab-eating monkey marks a major breakthrough in Nanochap's high-resolution artificial retina technology. This achievement brings new hope for patients who are blind due to retinopathy to restore their visual function, and is expected to greatly enhance their daily life autonomy and safety.