The race to restore vision for millions affected by blindness is taking a dramatic leap forward. Cortigent, a subsidiary of medical technology innovator Vivani Medical, has announced plans to unveil their groundbreaking Orion Visual Cortical Prosthesis System at the upcoming Neurotech Leaders Forum in San Francisco this November.
As someone who’s spent years tracking neurotechnology developments, this announcement represents a potential watershed moment in the field of visual neural prosthetics. The Orion system isn’t just another incremental advance—it’s designed to bypass damaged optic nerves entirely, directly stimulating the brain’s visual cortex to create artificial vision for people with profound blindness.
During my conversation last month with a neurosurgeon specializing in sensory restoration, he emphasized that cortical approaches like Orion represent “the final frontier” for patients whose blindness stems from damaged retinas or optic nerves. Unlike retinal implants that require healthy eye structures, cortical prostheses could theoretically help almost anyone experiencing vision loss.
The FDA has already recognized Orion’s potential, granting it Breakthrough Device designation—a status reserved for technologies addressing life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating conditions. This designation accelerates the review process and acknowledges both the critical unmet need and Orion’s innovative approach.
According to data from the World Health Organization, approximately 40 million people worldwide experience blindness, with millions more suffering severe visual impairment. The economic impact extends beyond individual suffering—visual disabilities cost the global economy an estimated $411 billion annually in lost productivity.
Vivani’s presentation will detail their plans for a pivotal clinical trial expected to begin in 2025. The company has strategically positioned this announcement ahead of the forum, where investors and industry experts will gather to assess emerging neurotechnologies. Their presentation promises to share preliminary safety data and vision restoration metrics from earlier studies.
What makes Orion particularly fascinating is its surgical approach. Rather than interfacing with the eye, the system includes an implant placed directly on the surface of the brain’s visual cortex. A camera mounted on glasses captures visual information, which is processed by portable computing hardware and transmitted wirelessly to the implant. The device then stimulates specific neurons, creating visual patterns that the brain learns to interpret.
The journey to this point hasn’t been straightforward. Second Sight Medical Products initially developed the Orion technology before facing financial challenges. Vivani Medical’s acquisition of Second Sight in 2022 breathed new life into the project, combining resources and expertise to push the innovation forward.
While attending the Neural Interfaces Conference last year, I witnessed firsthand the excitement around cortical visual prosthetics. Researchers demonstrated how even rudimentary patterns of electrical stimulation could allow blind participants to identify object locations and movement. One participant described the experience as “seeing light and shadow patterns for the first time in decades.”
However, significant challenges remain. Precision targeting of visual cortex neurons requires sophisticated surgical techniques, and the brain’s tendency to form scar tissue around foreign objects presents long-term stability concerns. Additionally, training users to interpret the artificial signals requires extensive rehabilitation.
Dr. Robert Greenberg, who serves on Vivani’s Board of Directors, brings valuable experience from his earlier work developing retinal prostheses. “The visual cortex offers incredible potential for restoring functional vision,” he noted in a previous interview. “The neural density and plasticity at this location may ultimately allow for more detailed visual perception than was possible with retinal approaches.”
The timing of Vivani’s announcement aligns with a broader surge in neurotechnology investment. Venture capital funding for neural interface companies reached $2.1 billion in 2022 alone, according to data from Pitchbook. The convergence of miniaturized electronics, advanced materials science, and improved surgical techniques has created fertile ground for innovations like Orion.
For patients eagerly awaiting solutions, the 2025 clinical trial timeline offers both hope and a reminder of the methodical pace of medical device development. Regulatory approval processes typically take several years following successful trials, meaning widespread availability remains on the horizon rather than imminent.
Looking beyond the technical specifications, Orion represents something profoundly human—the potential to restore a sense many consider our most precious. As we stand at this intersection of neuroscience, engineering, and medicine, the ethical implications deserve equal consideration. Questions about access, affordability, and how we define “restored vision” will shape the technology’s ultimate impact.
When Cortigent presents at the Neurotech Leaders Forum this November, they won’t just be showcasing a device. They’ll be offering a glimpse into a future where blindness may no longer be permanent for millions worldwide—a future worth watching closely as it unfolds.
