BrainPort Vision Technology
- What is the BrainPort vision device?
- How is the BrainPort vision device related to the Tongue Display Unit (TDU)?
- Who could benefit from the BrainPort vision device?
- How does the BrainPort vision device work?
- What is the resolution of the display?
- How long does it take to learn?
- Will my experience be similar to the vision I once had?
- Can electrical stimulation hurt my tongue?
- How can I obtain the BrainPort vision device?
Are there research studies that I may be eligible to participate?*
What is the BrainPort vision device?
The BrainPort vision device is an investigational non-surgical assistive visual prosthetic device that translates information from a digital video camera to your tongue, through gentle electrical stimulation.
How is the BrainPort vision device related to the Tongue Display Unit (TDU)?
The TDU is the first prototype of the technology that has evolved into today's BrainPort vision device.
Who could benefit from the BrainPort vision device?
The current investigational prototype works best for individuals who are blind and have no better than light perception. Since we do not stimulate the eye or optic nerve, our technology has the potential to work across a wide range of visual impairments. We are actively developing device modifications to address the needs for those with low vision such as macular degeneration.
How does the BrainPort vision device work?
The BrainPort vision system consists of a postage-stamp-size electrode array for the top surface of the tongue (the tongue array), a base unit, a digital video camera, and a hand-held controller for zoom and contrast inversion. Visual information is collected from the user-adjustable head-mounted camera (FOV range 3–90 degrees) and sent to the BrainPort base unit. The base unit translates the visual information into an stimulation pattern that is displayed on the tongue. The tactile image is created by presenting white pixels from the camera as strong stimulation, black pixels as no stimulation, and gray levels as medium levels of stimulation, with the ability to invert contrast when appropriate. Users often report the sensation as pictures that are painted on the tongue with Champagne bubbles.
With the current system (arrays containing 100 to 600+ electrodes), study participants have been able to recognize high-contrast objects, their location, movement, and some aspects of perspective and depth. Trained blind participants use information from the tongue display to augment understanding of the environment. Our ongoing research with the BrainPort vision device demonstrates the great potential of tactile vision augmentation and we believe that these findings warrant further exploration. As a result, we are currently working on improvements to the tongue display hardware, software, and usability, and on overall device miniaturization.
What is the resolution of the display?
The images below demonstrate how information from the video camera is represented on the tongue. Today's prototypes have 400 to 600 points of information on a ~3cm x 3cm tongue display, presented at approximately 30 frames per second, yielding an information rich image stream. Our research suggests that the tongue is capable of resolving much higher resolution information and we are currently working to develop the optimal tongue display hardware and software.
How long does it take to learn?
Our current research studies involve participation between 2-10 hours*. Within minutes of introduction, users may understand where in space stimulation arises (up, down, left and right) and the direction of movement. Within an hour of practice, users can generally identify and reach for nearby objects, and point to and estimate the distance of objects out of reach. With additional training, subjects can identify letters and numbers and can recognize landmark information when using the device in a mobile scenario.
Will I experience vision similar to what I once had?
After a few hours of training, some users have described the experience as resembling a low-resolution version of the vision they once had. In addition, neuroimaging research suggests that for blind individuals, visual regions of the brain are activated while using the BrainPort vision device. Ultimately, the experience is uniquely individual. However, the resulting perception does not need to "feel" like eye-based vision in order to provide assistive benefit.
Can Electrical Stimulation Hurt My Tongue?
You can adjust the intensity of the stimulation to your comfort level. Participants have reported that the impulses feel like champagne bubbles effervescing on their tongue.
How can I obtain the BrainPort vision device?
The BrainPort vision device is an investigational prototype and is not yet for sale in the US or abroad. Wicab plans to develop an assistive device suitable for commercial introduction in the near future. In the meantime, the prototype BrainPort vision device is being used in research studies across the country to measure perceptual enhancement resulting from BrainPort vision device use*.
Are there research studies that I may be eligible to participate?*
A number of academic and research institutions have had or will have studies using the BrainPort vision device with specific participation requirements. Please contact us for more information. If you are a research institution and would like to conduct research with the BrainPort vision device, please contact us for options regarding collaboration.
Wicab, Inc. in Middleton, WIsconsin announced today the initiation of a clinical study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the BrainPort vision device in subjects who are blind. This year long study allows subjects to use the device at home after completion of initial clinic screening and training. Eligible subjects must be between the ages of 18 and 79 years of age and have had a medical diagnosis of blindness (light perception of no light perception) for at least 6 months. Blindness may not be a result of cortical injury, such as a traumatic brain injury or stroke. Subjects must have completed rehabilitation (such as orientation and mobility training with a white cane or guide dog). Previous use of the BrainPort vision device, pregnancy, and allergies to nickel or steel exclude participation in this study. Participants should be able to easily commute to and from the nearest clinical trial site and are required to make four quarterly clinic visits in addition to the initial training sessions. If you are interested in participating in this clinical study, please review our website, or contact Wicab at (608) 829-4511.
New York:
Lighthouse International
Arlene R. Gordon Research Institute
111 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1202
PI: Dr. William Seiple
Email: wseiple@lighthouse.org
Ph: (212) 821-9499
Pennsylvania:
The University of Pittsburgh
McGowan Institute
100 Technology Drive, Ste 200
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
PI: Dr. Amy Nau
Study Coordinator: Gail Engleka
Ph: (412) 383-9033
Study Information
Florida:
Independence for the Blind of West Florida, Inc.
3107 N Davis Hwy
Pensacola, FL 32503
Website: www.ibwest.org
PI: Walter Bruce Watson
Email: bruce.watson@ibwest.org
ibwest@ibwest.org
Ph: (850) 477-2663
Illinois:
The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
1850 W Roosevelt Rd
Chicago, IL 60608
PI: Dr. Janet Szlyk
Ph: (312) 666-1331
Kansas:
Envision
610 N Main St
Wichita, KS 67203
PI: Dr. Donald Fletcher
Ph: (316) 440-1681
Louisiana:
Ochsner Clinic Foundation
1514 Jefferson Hwy
New Orleans, LA 70121
PIs: Dr. Jonathan Nussdorf and Dr. Jeffrey Colegrove
Ph: (504) 842-3952
(504) 842-3917
Wisconsin:
Wicab, Inc.
8313 Greenway Blvd.
Suite 100
Middleton, WI 53562
PI: Dr. Aimee Arnoldussen
Email: vision@wicab.com
Ph: (608) 829-4500
Ontario, Canada:
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
1929 Bayview Ave
Toronto, Ontario Canada M4G 3E8
PI: Dr. Keith Gordon
Ph: (416) 486-2500
* Research studies are conducted under Institutional Review Board approved protocols and with participant consents.
The BrainPort® vision device is an Investigational Device and its use remains limited by U.S. Federal Law to investigational uses only. THE BRAINPORT VISION DEVICE HAS NOT YET BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) FOR CLEARANCE OR APPROVAL AND IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SALE. WICAB MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE DEVICE SAFETY OR EFFICACY.