Retinal Prosthesis with Enhanced Thermal Imaging

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose to develop and evaluate the utility of a thermal imaging system as an input modality to a retinal prosthetic. Retinal prostheses restore partial vision to people blinded by outer retinal degenerative diseasessuch as Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) or Macular Degeneration. The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System is intended to provide electrical stimulation of the retina to elicit visual perception in blind individuals wih severe to profound retinitis pigmentosa. Theimplanted epiretinal array provides a 10 x 6 grid of electrodes. Electrical pulses at these 60 pixel sites stimulate the retina's remaining cells and result in the perception of patterns of light in the brain. The current spatial resolution is only 0 total pixels. Ordinary light and color information is difficult for wearers to effectively process n many important tasks at this low resolution. Current compensation techniques in reduced resolution systems apply enhancement, magnification, and panning o