The Future of Retinal Implants

Show notes

Professor of ophthalmology [https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/daniel-palanker"]( Daniel Palanker is a physicist who has combined his skills in optics and electronics to create PRIMA – the Photovoltaic Retinal Implant. Inserted beneath the retina, it restores vision to patients blinded by retinal degeneration, allowing them to read and write – and with the next-generation software, to recognize faces. PRIMA’s photovoltaic pixels act like tiny solar panels, converting light into electricity to stimulate the remaining retinal neurons. Better yet, the growing field of brain-computer interfaces may have implications beyond ophthalmology. “Unlike medicine, where the road ends with curing a disease or restoring lost function, the prospects for brain-machine interfaces may be infinite,” Palanker tells host [https://bioengineering.stanford.edu/people/russ-altman"]( Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s _The Future of Everything_ podcast. _Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to_ [_thefutureofeverything@stanford.edu_](mailto:thefutureofeverything@stanford.edu)_._ **Episode Reference Links:** - Stanford Profile: [https://profiles.stanford.edu/daniel-palanker"]( Daniel Palanker **Connect With Us:** - Episode Transcripts >>> [https://engineering.stanford.edu/magazine/collection/future-everything-podcast"]( The Future of Everything Website - Connect with Russ >>> [https://www.threads.net/@russbaltman"]( Threads / [https://bsky.app/profile/rbaltman.bsky.social"]( Bluesky / [https://mastodon.social/@rbaltman"]( Mastodon - Connect with School of Engineering >>> [https://twitter.com/stanfordENG"]( Twitter/X / [https://www.instagram.com/stanfordeng/"]( Instagram / [https://www.linkedin.com/school/stanford-university-school-of-engineering/posts/?feedView=all&viewAsMember=true"]( LinkedIn / [https://www.facebook.com/stanford.engineering/"]( Facebook **Chapters:** (00:00:00) **Introduction** Russ Altman introduces guest Daniel Palanker, a professor of ophthalmology and electrical engineering at Stanford University. (00:03:17) **Path into Ophthalmology** How Palanker’s background in physics and optics led him to vision research. (00:04:33) **How Vision Works** A primer on the eye, retina, photoreceptors, and the neural code of sight. (00:08:50) **Retinal Degeneration** How diseases like macular degeneration and inherited retinal disorders damage vision. (00:13:18) **The PRIMA Implant** How a photovoltaic retinal implant converts light into electrical stimulation. (00:15:05) **Augmented Reality Glasses** How camera-equipped glasses amplify and project images to power the implant. (00:17:42) **From Reading to Face Recognition** Why grayscale vision is the next step toward recognizing faces. (00:20:18) **Implanting the Device** How the wireless chip is placed under the retina and powered by light. (00:21:45) **Replaceable Vision Technology** How future generations of implants could be swapped in for higher resolution. (00:22:28) **Limits of Resolution** Why geometry and proximity to neurons determine how small pixels can get. (00:24:00) **Moving to 3D Electrodes** How pillar-shaped electrodes help neurons move closer to the implant. (00:26:28) **Clinical Path Forward** The status of European trials, FDA discussions, and future patient access. (00:28:10) **Safety and Real-World Use** What trials reveal about surgical risks, durability, and patients using implants at home. (00:30:11) **Future In a Minute** Rapid-fire Q&A: neural coding, brain-machine interfaces, and restoring vision. **Connect With Us:** Episode Transcripts >>> [The">https://engineering.stanford.edu/magazine/collection/future-everything-podcast">The]( >> [Threads]( https://www.threads.net/@russbaltman">Threads / [Bluesky]( https://bsky.app/profile/rbaltman.bsky.social">Bluesky / [Mastodon]( https://mastodon.social/@rbaltman">Mastodon Connect with School of Engineering >>>[Twitter/X]( https://twitter.com/stanfordENG">Twitter/X / [Instagram]( https://www.instagram.com/stanfordeng/">Instagram / [LinkedIn]( https://www.linkedin.com/school/stanford-university-school-of-engineering/posts/?feedView=all&viewAsMember=true">LinkedIn / [Facebook]( https://www.facebook.com/stanford.engineering/">Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See [pcm.adswizz.com]( https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.