Next-Generation Neural Implants: Yu-Chong Tai
This event was digitally recorded and is available for viewing on the Caltech Theater site. Many past Watson Lectures are available for viewing online on the Caltech Theater site, and are available for purchase: DVD Order Form (PDF)
Let's Start with Retinal Implants
More Americans than ever are facing the threat of blindness from age-related eye diseases. In the U.S. alone there are currently millions of people with blindness caused by age-related macular disease and retinitis pigmentosa. These people would benefit most from successful retinal implants.
After pacemakers and cochlear implants, the retinal implant to treat blindness is the next challenging frontier. Compared to other neural implants, retinal implants require a much higher number of electrodes and an extremely small volume, as demanded by the nature of our eyes. As a result, a totally new paradigm has to be developed for retinal implants. This talk will discuss the progress of a Caltech USC UCSC team to develop such a truly new intraocular retinal implant, using new materials and technologies. The goal is to enable miniature, flexible, and highly functional neural implants — which will also make possible better muscular, cortical, and spinal neural implants.
Yu-Chong Tai is Professor of Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering and Executive Officer for Electrical Engineering at Caltech.
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