Optimal Placement of High-Channel Visual Prostheses in Human Retinotopic Visual Cortex

Recent strides in neurotechnology offer hope for restoring vision in individuals afflicted with blindness due to early visual pathway damage. We present a comprehensive method to optimize electrode placement for visual prostheses, with the objective of aligning with predetermined phosphene distributions. Our approach relies on individual anatomy data to minimize discrepancies between simulated and target phosphene patterns. While tailored for a 1000-channel 3D electrode array in V1, our algorithm is versatile, potentially accommodating any electrode design. Notably, our results show individually optimized placements outperform average brain solutions, underscoring the significance of anatomical specificity. Nevertheless, challenges persist in achieving comprehensive visual field coverage owing to current electrode constraints. We propose potential solutions involving multiple arrays to address this limitation. Additionally, considering intracranial vasculature constraints in future iterations could refine the optimization process. Our openly accessible software streamlines the refinement of surgical procedures and facilitates simulation studies, offering a realistic exploration of electrode design possibilities.