# On the Verge of Artificial Vision

- Show: [EE Times Current](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current)
- Published: 2021-10-08
- Length: 38m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-10-08-on-the-verge-of-artificial-vision
- Listen: https://www.eetimes.com/podcasts/wb-ep156/

## Summary

Philip Troyk, CEO of Sigenics and head of the Pritzker Institute at Illinois Tech, explains the development of a wireless intracortical visual prosthesis designed to restore vision to the blind. The system uses floating microelectrode arrays made of iridium to stimulate the occipital lobe, bypassing damaged eyes and optic nerves to create phosphenes. Troyk details the transition from early wired NIH prototypes to a fully wireless, inductively powered ASIC chip, highlighting the engineering challenges of biocompatibility and signal mapping. The project, funded by the NIH and involving partners like Johns Hopkins and Microprobes, is currently recruiting volunteers for clinical trials to test the interface's ability to convey artificial vision data.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-10-08-on-the-verge-of-artificial-vision#t=0) Introduction: EE Times Weekly Briefing and ML Perf News
- [7:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-10-08-on-the-verge-of-artificial-vision#t=457) History of Vision Prostheses: Brindley, Donaldson, and Phosphenes
- [16:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-10-08-on-the-verge-of-artificial-vision#t=964) The Wireless Floating Microelectrode Array and ASIC Design
- [20:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-10-08-on-the-verge-of-artificial-vision#t=1220) Clinical Trial Challenges: Mapping the Brain and Volunteer Selection
- [27:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-10-08-on-the-verge-of-artificial-vision#t=1642) Psychophysics, Sensor Inputs, and Future Applications
- [34:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-10-08-on-the-verge-of-artificial-vision#t=2069) Sigenics, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, and Project Recruitment

## Topics

- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Sigenics (company)
- Illinois Institute of Technology (company)
- Pritzker Institute of Biomedical Science and Engineering (other)
- NVIDIA (company)
- Intel (company)
- ASML (company)
- Rob Spence (other)
- Giles Brindley (other)
- Peter Donaldson (other)
- Johns Hopkins (company)
- Microprobes (company)
- Iridium (material)

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- [144. Implantable Chip To Cure Diabetes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-10-17-144-implantable-chip-to-cure-diabetes) (The Next Byte Podcast)
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## Citing this page

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