I-Corps: Translation Potential of a Wearable Contact Lens Ultrasound Retinal Stimulation for Noninvasive Vision Restoration

Award ID: 2628859

This I-Corps project is based on the development of a wireless retinal stimulation system to restore functional vision for people with degenerative retinal diseases. Approximately 200 million individuals worldwide live with conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, yet existing retinal prostheses require complex surgery with implanted electronics and provide only limited vision, resulting in low adoption and high costs that restrict access for most patients. The technology uses a thin, flexible implant paired with a wearable ultrasound transmitter to stimulate the retina without any implanted wires, coils, or electronics. By eliminating the need for invasive implanted hardware, the technology simplifies surgical procedures and improves long-term safety. In addition, this innovation has the potential to expand access to effective vision restoration for a much larger patient population, lower long-term healthcare costs associated with vision loss and significantly improve quality of life and independence for millions of patients who currently have few effective treatment options. This I-Corps project utilizes experiential learning coupled with first-hand investigation of the industry ecosystem to assess the translation potential of a wirelessly ultrasound-based retinal stimulation platform. The system combines a flexible lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) epoxy 13 composite ultrasonic transducer micro-pillar array containing 1015 micrometer electrically isolated posts with a wearable contact lens-style ultrasound transmitter. Ultrasound waves mechanically modulate inner retinal neurons while simultaneously driving each micro-pillar to produce localized, biphasic, charge-balanced electrical pulses, enabling dual-mode mechanical and electrical stimulation without implanted electronics or photodiodes. This technology achieves sub-20 micrometer effective resolution, operates within established ultrasound safety limits, and avoids the optical safety constraints and limited scalability of existing optical and tethered systems. The thin, passive implant integrates easily with standard vitreoretinal surgical workflows, offering users improved functional vision outcomes such as reading and mobility while simplifying implantation, reducing surgical risk, and easing long-term device management for both patients and clinicians. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Program Director: Ruth Shuman