TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Retinal Light Processing Using Carbon Nanotubes (TOP2-193)

NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses.

THE TECHNOLOGY:

NASA has patented a new technology called the Vision Chip, an implantable device that has the potential to restore or supplement visual function in a diseased or damaged retina. This technology could benefit millions of people in the US and globally who suffer from degenerative diseases of the eye's retina such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), and, in some cases, diabetic retinopathy. AMD is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the U.S., affecting >25% of people over age 74 [ref 1 at end]. Severe vision loss or blindness from many retinal disorders is increasing as the population ages. The Vision Chip is targeted to treat AMD, and other degenerative diseases of the retina by replacing a compromised retinal photoreceptor system with an array of equivalent external photoreceptors and carbon nanotube (CNT) "towers" (bundles of CNTs) that provide a pathway to transmit signals from the external photoreceptors to an active layer of retina.

To express interest in this opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/TOP2-193

If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/

These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.