Feasibility of Stimulating the Visual Cortex in Blind

NCT02747589 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: BlindStim
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 5
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In this study, the investigators intend to evaluate the use of a commercially available neurostimulator system, NeuroPace RNS System to stimulate the visual cortex. The NeuroPace RNS System has a proven record of safety and reliability was approved by the FDA in November 2013. The RNS System is indicated for use in patients with epilepsy and includes a skull implanted neurostimulator. No modification to the RNS System is required for this study. This study will use this device to better understand the effect of stimulation on the visual parts of the brain. The main purposes of this study are to confirm the desired location to implant a device in the visual cortex, determine the amount of energy needed to elicit vision, and assess the nature of the vision that is produced. This information is important to have early in the process of designing a visual cortical prosthesis that could eventually be used for commercial use.

Conditions

Blindness,Acquired

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Stimulation level required to elicit visual phosphene

  Quantitative outcome. Direct brain stimulation to reproduce visual phenomena has not been done. There are no predesigned outcome measures. For this outcome measure, we will determine how much stimulation (in amps) is required to induce a perception of vision.

  6 months

• Characterization of stimulation-induced visions

  Descriptive outcome. Subjects will be asked to describe the type of visual perception that is induced by direct brain stimulation.

  6 months

• Spatial localization of stimulation to produce visual phenomena with direct cortical stimulation.

  Anatomic outcome. No predetermined outcome scale exists. We will assess patients and the sites of brain stimulation to determine which areas of the brain produce reliable visual phenomena when stimulated.

  6 months

Study Arms (1)

Treatment Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects will be implanted to assess the feasibility of stimulating visual cortex to restore vision in blind volunteers.

Procedure: Surgical device implant in brain

Interventions

Surgical device implant in brain PROCEDURE

Neuropace RNS implant ove visual cortex

Treatment Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 74 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Subject is blind (i.e. bare light perception or no light perception in both eyes).
• Subject has a history of useful form vision.
• Subject is between the age of 18-74.
• Subject resides within 2 hours distance (by ground transportation) of the investigational site.
• Subject is (a) male or (b) a female of childbearing potential with a negative pregnancy test who is using a reliable method of contraception or is at least two years post-menopause.
• Subject is able to complete regular office and telephone appointments per the protocol requirements.
• Subject is medically fit for neurosurgical intervention.
• Subject is considered a good candidate to be implanted with the investigational device.

You may not qualify if:

• Subject is blind due to cortical etiology (e.g. injury to the visual cortex).
• Subject is eligible for another commercially available vision restoration therapy (e.g. retinal prosthesis).
• Subject is at high risk for surgical complications such as active systemic infection, coagulation disorders (such as the use of anti-thrombotic therapies) or platelet count below 100,000.
• Subject has history of bleeding or immune compromise.
• Subject is taking chronic anticoagulants or antiplatelet agent or subject has an abnormally elevated preoperative coagulation profile (either PTT or PT/INR).
• Subject has had prior craniotomy or brain surgery.
• Subject has evidence of active intracranial disease that would preclude elective neurosurgical intervention, such as unruptured intracranial aneurysm or brain tumor, or aberrant visual cortex anatomy, such as prior stroke or arteriovenous malformation.
• Subject has a significant abnormality on preoperative brain MRI
• Subject has a prior history of seizures or epilepsy.
• Subject has Parkinson's disease
• Subject has a prior history of serious head injury with loss of consciousness.
• Subject has a progressive central nervous system disease.
• Subject has history of implant-related infection.
• Implantation of the investigational device would present unacceptable risk.
• Subject requires or is likely to require any of the following medical procedures while implanted with the NeuroPace RNS System: MR imaging, diathermy, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). These medical procedures are contraindicated for patients with an implanted RNS® System. Energy from these procedures can be sent through the implanted brain stimulation system and cause permanent brain damage which may cause severe injury, coma, or death. Brain damage can occur from any of the listed procedures even if the RNS® Neurostimulator is turned off or if the Leads are not connected to the Neurostimulator, and can occur even if the Neurostimulator has been removed and any Leads (or any part of a Lead) or the cranial prosthesis remain. Refer to the Contraindications section of the RNS System User Manual for further details.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, Los Angeles: lead

Study Sites (1)

UCLA Department of Neurosurgery

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Blindness

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Vision Disorders; Sensation Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Eye Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Ausaf Bari, MPH

  University of California, Los Angeles

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 14, 2016
• First Posted: April 22, 2016
• Study Start: August 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Last Updated: January 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)