A new retinal implant produced by a French biotech will be tested. It aims to restore vision to patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
Good news for people with blindness. The French company Pixium Vision, which develops innovative systems to restore sight to these people, has just obtained authorization from the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) to start a clinical trial with its new system. restoration of vision (SRV), called IRIS® II.
This device is fitted with an epi-retinal implant, made up of 150 electrodes which can be explanted in the event of a problem, without damaging the retina. It is also equipped with an intelligent camera which functions like the human eye and visualizes all the new events which occur under the eyes of the individual.
Pigmentary retinopathy
The SRV IRIS II is intended for individuals affected by pigmentary retinopathy, such as cone-rod dystrophy or choroideremia, pathologies causing a progressive restriction of the visual field. Ten patients fitted with the IRIS device® They will be monitored over a period of 18 months to measure the effectiveness of this new vision system.
This innovation is in line with the IRIS I clinical trial, which was based on a similar implant, but provided “only” with 49 electrodes. This had given very positive results and several patients in Europe had been implanted.
On the European market
The IRIS 2 trial has already started in several centers in Europe and so far it is yielding conclusive results only IRIS I. In a press release, Pixium Vision explains that patients are supporting their implant well and have already seen improvements. of their visual perceptions.
The company has also submitted a file to obtain CE marking, in accordance with European standards, which will allow it to market the device in 2016.
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