Cortical Neuroprosthesis To Restore Visual Perception To Bling Patients.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,250.00
Summary
We will develop a medical device to restore visual perception to profoundly blind patients. This device will act to electrically stimulate the visual area of the brain. Electrical stimulation of this area leads to the visual perception of small spots of light in patients who are otherwise blind. By correlating the stimulation of the brain, which leads to the perception of spots of light, with an image of the surrounding environment acquired by a camera and digitally enhanced, we aim to provide b ....We will develop a medical device to restore visual perception to profoundly blind patients. This device will act to electrically stimulate the visual area of the brain. Electrical stimulation of this area leads to the visual perception of small spots of light in patients who are otherwise blind. By correlating the stimulation of the brain, which leads to the perception of spots of light, with an image of the surrounding environment acquired by a camera and digitally enhanced, we aim to provide blind patients with a very basic visual perception of their surroundings.Read moreRead less
Improved electrophysiological mapping techniques have enhanced understanding of arrhythmia mechanisms and the development of curative ablation strategies. Advanced mapping systems utilize online visualization of catheters, 3D geometry, and annotation of ablation sites. To date, all commercially available systems rely on proprietary equipment to locate catheter positions and reconstruct chamber shape from multiple site recordings. Thus, cost is prohibitive, limiting widespread availability. An al ....Improved electrophysiological mapping techniques have enhanced understanding of arrhythmia mechanisms and the development of curative ablation strategies. Advanced mapping systems utilize online visualization of catheters, 3D geometry, and annotation of ablation sites. To date, all commercially available systems rely on proprietary equipment to locate catheter positions and reconstruct chamber shape from multiple site recordings. Thus, cost is prohibitive, limiting widespread availability. An alternative approach has emerged with the use of CT-MRI imaging and analysis. Novel techniques extract images of the endocardial surface from CT-MRI for use in electrophysiological mapping. This surface can be used as the chamber geometry instead of reconstruction based on expensive technology measuring spatial coordinates of the catheter tip inside heart. The proposed Anatomical Template Mapping System (ATMS) will generate maps of electrophysiological parameters derived from catheter recordings without the need for proprietary equipment. The physician will direct the virtual catheter position onto the 3D model of the chamber, obviating the need for equipment to map the spatial distribution of the catheters. The major advantage is that, without the need for specialized equipment, this method of mapping is substantially cheaper and can be used with any conventional electrophysiological mapping systems. Furthermore, it will provide the most important feature of the advanced mapping systems - an understanding of the arrhythmia mechanism.Read moreRead less