Low-latency system for evaluation of image-enhancement-algorithms on patients using subretinal implants

In this paper, a real-time system consisting of a camera device, computational unit and head mounted display, adjusted to the needs of patients using subretinal implants, is presented. Retinal implants demonstrated to partially restore useful vision to patients suffering from hereditary retinal degeneration diseases. Even though various implant-mediated visual perceptions in daily-life were reported, perceived vision could be enhanced using algorithms well known from image-processing. Due to strict area limitations subretinal implants can only cover well-chosen and carefully examined functionality within the silicon device. To gain flexibility in testing different kinds of image enhancement algorithms, a software solution allowing quick changes is desired. The system presented here, allows recording and displaying reality on a head mounted display with low latency, while maintaining true to scale representation. Additionally different types of pixel-based image-enhancement-algorithms can be applied on the captured content to modify the perceived image.