国产IMIE智能视网膜临床试验取得重大突破 (Domestic IMIE Intelligent Retina Clinical Trial Major Breakthrough)

Source: 湖南日报 via 红星网, 2026-06-07. https://www.hxw.gov.cn/content/2026/06/07/14903250.html

On June 5, 2026, Prof. Xu Huizhuo’s team at Xiangya Hospital (Central South University, Changsha) announced a major breakthrough in the IMIE Intelligent Retina clinical trial: China’s first totally blind subject achieved basic Chinese character recognition and independent indoor walking after implantation.

Key details

• Patient: 61-year-old woman, RP diagnosis at age 40, total blindness for over a decade
• Surgery: April 2026, Xiangya Hospital; Prof. Xu Huizhuo (许惠卓) lead surgeon; Mark Humayun provided intraoperative guidance
• 6 mm diameter high-density electrode array placed on 0.4 mm thick macular tissue, fixed with 250 µm micro-tack
• IMIE system: fully domestically developed (China), complete independent IP
• 256-channel flexible electrode array stimulating macular ganglion cells
• External: custom glasses with HD camera → processor → wireless signal → intraocular implant
• Post-op: patient can recognize E-chart characters, walk indoors independently without escort

Fills the gap in domestic (Chinese) artificial retinal technology. The system is described as an invasive BCI (脑机接口) retinal prosthesis.