Journal article
Retinal Prosthesis Safety: Alterations in Microglia Morphology due to Thermal Damage and Retinal Implant Contact
Nicholas L Opie, Ursula Greferath, Kirstan A Vessey, Anthony N Burkitt, Hamish Meffin, David B Grayden, Erica L Fletcher
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE | ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC | Published : 2012
Abstract
PURPOSE: In order to develop retinal implants with a large number of electrodes, it is necessary to ensure that they do not cause damage to the neural tissue by the heat that the electrical circuits generate. Knowledge about the threshold of the amount of power that induces damage will assist in developing power budgets for retinal implants. METHODS: Heat-induced retinal damage was evaluated by measuring changes in the morphology of the resident immune cells, the microglia, which are the first cells to respond to retinal trauma. Microglial soma and arbor areas were assessed in rat retinal tissues in vitro to determine the effects of increasing temperatures, implant contact, and heating and i..
View full abstractGrants
Funding Acknowledgements
Supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) through its Special Research Initiative (SRI) in Bionic Vision Science and Technology grant to Bionic Vision Australia (BVA). The Bionics Institute acknowledges the support it receives from the Victorian Government through its Operational Infrastructure Support Program.