Posted in Implantable devices by Chris Newmarker on November 26, 2013
Investors apparently see promise in retinal implant systems and their potential to make the blind see again.
Pixium Vision—a 2-year-old French company developing such technology—announced Monday that it has won €15 million, the equivalent of more than $20 million, in a Series A extension financing round led by Sofinnova Partners, which becomes the largest investor. The round also included support from Bpifrance, through the InnoBio fund, and existing series A investors Omnes Capital and Abingworth LLP.
Money will advance the development of Pixium’s IRIS retinal implant systems for patients.
Here's how Paris-based Pixium describes the IRIS system:
"The IRIS system involves an intraocular implant that is surgically placed into the eye and attached to the surface of the retina. The patient wears a pair of spectacles containing an integrated mini-camera and wireless transmitter. The spectacles are connected to a pocket computer, which processes the image captured by the camera into a signal that is transferred back through the spectacles and projected onto the retinal implant to stimulate the optic nerve and generate images."
A Pixium llustration shows how its IRIS1 creates visual perception in people who have lost their sight.
The company mentions even grander goals on its website, with plans to "harness the rapid advances being made in neural processing, micro-electronics and computing to develop retinal implant systems that for blind people could ultimately provide vision approaching that of a normal healthy eye."
Pixium is not the only company active in this area.
Next month, the Argus II Retinal Prothesis System by Second Sight is slated to go on sale in the United States. The "bionic eye" allow patients to perceive patterns of light.
