Science Corporation Acquires Pixium Vision’s Prima System to Advance Bionic Vision Technology

Apr 30, 2024 00:03 CST Updated 00:03

Pixium Vision

Bionic Vision System and Device Developer

Science

Medical Device Developer

On April 26, 2024, brain-computer interface developer Science Corporation announced today that itAcquired Pixium Vision's Prima ImplantIntellectual Property and Related Assets。

# AcquiredRetinal Implant Technology:Prima System

Pixium Vision is a bioelectronics and brain-computer interface technology company established in December 2011, focusing on the research and development of neuromodulation applications. The company’s star product, Prima System, is an innovative retinal implant technology designed as a photovoltaic alternative to photoreceptors, aiming to help patients with atrophic dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) regain their vision.

The core of the Prima System lies in its unique design, which includes a miniaturized and fully wireless subretinal Prima implant, a pair of glasses equipped with a camera and digital projector, and a pocket-sized computer with breakthrough algorithms. These components work together to simulate the normal physiological function of the eye's photoreceptor cells by electrically stimulating nerve cells within the retina, transmitting visual information to the brain.

The patent rights for this technology were exclusively transferred from Stanford University to Pixium Vision for the development and commercialization of the Prima bionic vision system. However, in October 2023, unable to find a financial investor meeting their requirements within a short period, Pixium Vision initiated a bidding process to seek a suitable buyer for acquiring its business.

The components of the Prima System include a wireless retinal implant, glasses equipped with a camera and digital projector, and a pocket-sized processor. These elements work together to achieve a complete process from visual capture, information processing, to visual perception, providing patients with an unprecedented visual experience.

Prima System Working Principle Demonstration Animation (Source: Official Website)

(1) Working Principle:

Prima system aims to achieve its goal through electricalStimulating the nerve cells inside the retina；Partially replace the normal physiological function of photoreceptor cells in the eye; transmit visual information to the brain through the optic nerve.

On GlassesMicro-camera captures visual scenes，Artificial Intelligence AlgorithmPocket ElectricityThe brain processes and simplifies visual scenes., extract useful information.
The images are sent back to the glasses, where a miniature digital projector beams the processed images through the pupil using near-infrared light pulses.Projected onto the Prima wireless photovoltaic subretinal implant at the back of the eye, below the retina。
Photovoltaic cells convert thisOptical Information Converted to Electrical Stimulation, stimulating the bipolar nerve cells in the inner layer of the retina, followed byInducing Visual Perception in the Brain。

(II) System Features:

1. Minimally Invasive Design:Prima Implant Used in Feasibility Clinical StudiesChiDimensions: 2x2 millimeters, thickness: 30 micrometers(Equivalent to one-third the size of a human hair).

This is aMiniature, Passive, Fully WirelessThe subretinal implant,Powered by pulsed near-infrared light through a miniature digital projector integrated into glasses worn by the implanted subject.

The small size and wireless design of the Prima system implant enableMinimally Invasive Surgery, which can be performed under local or general anesthesia.

2. High resolution:The Prima system restores vision by directly targeting the degenerated photoreceptor level.Improving the Resolution of Prosthetic Artificial Vision Perception. Subretinal implant utilizesInner Retinal Layer。

The implant also includes378 electrodes, each pixel has its own local electrical return path, designed to provide more targeted electrical stimulation.

Pixium Vision announced the completion of implantations in a pivotal European trial in December 2022.Two feasibility clinical trials are currently underway in France and the United States.

In March 2023, Pixium Vision's Prima system received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, and the company plans to submit for European approval in the first half of 2024.

# "Science Eye," Ushering in a New Era of Visual Restoration with Brain-Computer Interfaces

In 2021, Max Hodak, the former co-founder of Neuralink, joined forces with a group of like-minded partners to establish Science Corporation, a rising star in the brain-computer interface field, and successfully raised a total funding of up to $160 million, providing solid support for the company's research, development, and market expansion.

The first core project of Science Corporation is the highly anticipatedScience Eye. Although the "Eye of Science" is still in the animal testing phase and has not yet been officially applied to humans, its enormous potential and the wide range of application scenarios it could achieve in the future have already attracted the attention of many investors.

By 2022, Max Hodak and the scientific team's relentless efforts had finally yielded阶段性成果. They successfully launched this brain-computer platform — Science Eye, an innovative visual prosthesis. The advent of Science Eye has brought a glimmer of hope to those plunged into darkness due to vision loss and marks a significant breakthrough in brain-computer interface technology within the field of vision restoration.

The Working Principle and Therapy of Science Eye:

The working principle of Science Eye is based on the natural process of the human visual system. First, the retina is responsible for converting light into neural signals, which are then sent to the brain for processing. In this process, photoreceptors play a key role as light-sensitive cells that can absorb light and convert it into information. Once the light is converted into information, it is transmitted through interneurons to the retinal ganglion cells. Finally, these retinal ganglion cells transmit the information to the brain via the optic nerve.

To restore vision in patients who have lost photoreceptor cells, Science Eye employs two innovative therapies:

Optogenetic Gene Therapy: This method utilizes a special protein nanoparticle to deliver genes into retinal ganglion (optic nerve) cells. These genes enable the cells to become sensitive to specific wavelengths. Notably, the proteins used in the experiment are not sensitive to normal daylight but only to light emitted by implanted flexible micro-light-emitting diodes.
High-Resolution Display Film：A tiny and flexible high-resolution display film is precisely placed on the retina through surgery. This device can interact with genetically modified ganglion cells, enabling fine control over light.

The combination of these two technologies brings hope of regaining vision to patients who have gone blind due to damaged rod and cone cells. More importantly, the electronic device of Science Eye is compact, similar in size to the widely used glaucoma shunt today. This allows it to be inserted without general anesthesia, and patients will hardly feel its presence.

The installation process is as follows:

Currently, the experimenters have implanted the Eye of Science into rabbits, but careful observation of tissue imaging is still needed to determine whether the gene therapy is effective.

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Editor-in-Chief | Zhao Qing Reviewed by | Yi He