Frederik Ceyssens and the ReVision Implant Team: Building a Visual Cortical Prosthesis to Restore Sight

In this special on-location episode recorded in Leuven, Belgium, we sit down with the co-founders and technical leaders of ReVision Implant—Frederik Ceyssens (CEO), Maarten Schelles (CTO), and Laurens Goyvaerts (CSO). The team shares their journey developing a high-density, intracortical visual prosthesis aimed at restoring vision for the blind. From developing reliable insertion technology to achieving long-term biocompatibility in nonhuman primate models, ReVision Implant is at the forefront of neurotech innovation. Tune in to hear about their challenges, breakthroughs, and what’s next in the race to cure blindness through brain stimulation.

This episode is sponsored by Black Swan IP – patent strategy and legal support for neurotech innovators. Learn more at www.blackswan-ip.com/

Top 3 Takeaways:

• Future users of ReVision's visual prosthesis express diverse goals—from navigating unfamiliar cities independently to recognizing familiar faces—highlighting the need for customizable solutions with both wide fields of view and high resolution.
• The team is exploring adaptive algorithms that could allow users to toggle between broad, low-resolution views and focused, high-resolution modes—such as reading letters or recognizing faces—offering personalized visual strategies even if only a few thousand stimulation points are achievable.
• Restoring vision is one of the most challenging neurotech applications—far beyond simply upgrading existing DBS systems—but taking that bold leap sets ReVision Implant apart in a space where few dare to innovate at this scale.

1:00 Do you want to introduce yourselves and your company?

6:30 What is the device and how is it different than other companies?

11:15 How many pixels or phosphenes are you expecting to get?

16:00 How much processing will be required to handle that many channels?

17:00 What is the form factor of the device?

18:15 How long is the battery expected to last?

23:30 What kind of acceleration would you expect from investment?

26:00 How does your fabrication process look?

31:30 Sponsorship by blackswan-ip 

32:15 Are you also looking at vision augmentation?

35:00 There's a large graveyard in this visual neuroprosthetics space, why do you think you will survive where others have died?

40:30 Did some of the other companies have technical issues that caused them to die?

45:30 Is there anything that we didn't talk about that you wanted to mention?