Second Sight Medical is slated to set up shop at 12 medical centers across the U.S. to begin consultations for its "bionic eye," the Argus II retinal implant approved by the FDA earlier this year.
Although the product has not launched yet, the Sylmar, Calif.-based company is opening what it calls Centers for Excellence to begin early patient consultations in major markets. The device works to improve blindness with a small camera housed in glasses hooked to an electronic eye implant.
The 1st-of-its kind technology landed FDA approval in February. Second Sight plans to begin evaluating patients for the high-demand blindness device at hospitals in Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Durham, N.C., Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia and San Francisco, according to a press release.
"We are thrilled that several of the nation’s top hospitals will be the first to offer Argus II to patients in the U.S.," business development vice president Brian Mech said in prepared remarks. "After an intensive and difficult selection process, these sites were chosen for their cutting-edge approach to medicine and unparalleled commitment to patient care. We are confident that RP patients seeking treatment at these centers will benefit greatly from the best-in-class services these sites provide."
