MIET and Sechenov University developed a device that will help blind people to see

Scientists from the universities participating in the “Priority 2030” program are developing technology and devices for neurostimulation of the cerebral cortex that will help people who have lost their sight to restore their ability to see. The research is on the last stage of preclinical testing - testing on primates.

Sechenov University and MIET* have developed a device “Elvis” that allows to “connect” its cameras to the brain of a blind person and transmit the image to the brain directly, without the help of the eyes. The device was created for people who have completely lost their sight, but retained their visual memory and experience.

The technology of neurostimulation of the cerebral cortex is implemented on a three-component wearable device “Elvis”, which forms phosphenes that form visual images in the human brain. People who are blind from birth cannot see phosphenes. But they can be artificially induced in a person who has become blind during his life, which opens up prospects for creating prostheses that can provide a different, useful form of vision.

How does it work?

Elvis consists of three components: an implant with a microchip, which is installed in the human brain and stimulates the visual cortex with weak currents; a hoop with a camera that is mounted on a person's head, and a microcomputer that processes the image from the camera using intelligent algorithms. The device is mobile and is attached to the belt.

A person sees with no eyes, but the brain. Therefore, the retina and optic nerve can be replaced by a video camera. Object vision is formed in the occipital lobe of the brain called the visual cortex. A cortical implant (microchip) embedded in the cerebral cortex stimulates the primary visual cortex with small currents, due to which a person sees bright flashes - phosphenes that form visual images. Next, the Elvis microcomputer processes the captured image using neural networks and forms a visual image for a person.

Cortical prostheses are a subgroup of visual neuroprostheses capable of inducing visual perceptions in blind people through direct electrical stimulation of the occipital cortex, which is responsible for image recognition. This approach may be the only available treatment for blindness caused by glaucoma, end-stage retinitis pigmentosa, optic nerve atrophy, trauma of the retina, optic nerves, and etc.

Elvis may become the first Russian mass-produced device using electrodes implanted in the brain for the long term.

The first operation to install a Russian neuroimplant was successfully completed at the Research Institute of Medical Primatology in Sochi. The next stage of testing “Elvis” is planned for 2023–2026. During this period, the developers will produce the first experimental batches of the device and test it on up to 10 blind and deaf-blind volunteers. Test participants will be able to get a new way of vision and become the first in our country to use a full-fledged bionic cortical implant. The introduction of the “Elvis” into medical practice in the Russian Federation is planned for 2027. The first operations will be carried out with the support of the Ministry of Health, as well as on a commercial basis with the support of charitable foundations and sponsors.

Nearly 40 million blind people around the world need to restore their ability to see. However, there is still no affordable way of vision prosthetics. The developments of universities participating in the Priority 2030 program and their partners are aimed at solving this complex problem in the near future.

*The device was developed in partnership with the Deaf-Blind Support Foundation «Con-nection», the non-profit laboratory "Sensor-Tech", the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of RAS, the Center for Collective Design of the RTU MIREA, Industry Union "Neuronet", The Skolkovo Foundation and the Moscow Innovation Cluster.