Safety And Efficacy Of A Surgically Implanted Suprachoroidal Retinal Prosthesis (Bionic Eye)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,233,826.00
Summary
A bionic eye is a electronic device which can stimulate the remaining visual pathway in a person who is blind, to restore some basic vision. Our team have previously shown that our novel bionic eye device can be safely implanted in a patient, and can give improvements in vision when tested in a laboratory environment. The next stage of the research is to provide patients with a more advanced device, which will contain more electrodes and also be able to be taken home.
Delivering Advanced Electrode Materials To The Clinic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$702,604.00
Summary
This research will develop improved electrodes for interfacing neural tissue by combining the expertise of materials scientists and electrophysiologists with medical bionics researchers. This work is expected to deliver improved bionic devices to the clinic in order to treat a variety of disorders from blindness to the control of motor tremor in Parkinson's disease.
A New Mouse Model That Determines The Effects Of A Unilateral Vestibular Prosthesis On Vestibular Plasticity.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$455,678.00
Summary
Much like a cochlear implant restores auditory function, a vestibular prosthesis restores balance function. It is not clear whether the limited results from vestibular prostheses is due the device not stimulating one component (the otoliths) of the vestibular system essential for self-repair. We will test mutant mice that lack otoliths to determine the importance of stimulating the otoliths in restoring function. This work will shape the future direction of prosthesis development.
Neuro-feedback For Improved Efficacy Of Retinal Prostheses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$653,655.00
Summary
Bionic eyes offer the possibility to return sight to the blind. Existing retinal implants are effective at delivering basic visual percepts, namely brief spots of light. Our team is now working on building the second generation of bionic eyes that include the ability to both stimulate the visual system (the retina) and record its response. By recording the evoked responses, we can adjust and optimize the stimulation to restore a persistent high spatial resolution sense of vision to the blind.
Next Generation Cybernetics: Long Term Carbon Fibre Dual Stimulation / Recording Electrode Arrays For Closed Loop Neural Implants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$679,670.00
Summary
Electrodes implanted in the brain have enormous potential for treating a range of conditions from epilepsy to control of prosthetics for patients with limb loss. Currently, the electrodes used in such system fail rapidly because they are rejected by the body. We aim to use diamond with ultra-fine carbon fibre electrodes to make arrays that are invisible to the human immune system. Such arrays will function for the lifetime of the patient without needing replacement.
The Role Of Osteocytes In Particle Induced Osteolysis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$457,196.00
Summary
Hip replacements often fail due to the loss of adjacent bone. Metal or polyethylene particles are produced as the prosthesis bearing surface wears but how do these particles lead to bone loss? Our work suggests involvement of osteocytes within the bone mineral, which are increasingly understood to drive bone physiology and pathology. We will explore the role of the osteocytes by examining their response to particles, which may identify a new target to prevent particle-induced bone loss.
Improving Spatial Resolution In Retinal Prostheses Through Novel Electrical Stimulation Techniques
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$371,390.00
Summary
This project aims to improve the resolution of bionic eyes and thus improve quality of living for the blind through novel electrical stimulation methods. Present commercial implants are inadequate in the amount of resolution they provide to conduct complex tasks such as independent navigation, reading and facial recognition. The proposed experiments using the new stimulation methods will inform a new generation of devices capable of high resolution without increasing the number of physical elect ....This project aims to improve the resolution of bionic eyes and thus improve quality of living for the blind through novel electrical stimulation methods. Present commercial implants are inadequate in the amount of resolution they provide to conduct complex tasks such as independent navigation, reading and facial recognition. The proposed experiments using the new stimulation methods will inform a new generation of devices capable of high resolution without increasing the number of physical electrodes.Read moreRead less
Protecting Hearing During Surgery -an Experimental And Clinical Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$723,048.00
Summary
Both hearing and balance are vulnerable during ear surgery, and the loss of either carries a heavy personal, social and economic cost. We have developed new ways of protecting the ear during surgery, though either the local delivery of medication to the inner ear or by injection. The clinical protocol will be developed in the laboratory and tested in a clinical trial. This research will stand to benefit all people undergoing major operation on their ear, and especially cochlear implant candidate ....Both hearing and balance are vulnerable during ear surgery, and the loss of either carries a heavy personal, social and economic cost. We have developed new ways of protecting the ear during surgery, though either the local delivery of medication to the inner ear or by injection. The clinical protocol will be developed in the laboratory and tested in a clinical trial. This research will stand to benefit all people undergoing major operation on their ear, and especially cochlear implant candidates with residual hearing.Read moreRead less