Cortigent
Cortigent is an American neurostimulation company developing the investigational Orion visual cortical prosthesis, continuing the Second Sight lineage under Vivani ownership.
Cortigent is an American neurostimulation company developing Orion, an investigational visual cortical prosthesis system. It continues the former Second Sight technology lineage and operates as a subsidiary of Vivani Medical.
Company background
- Focus: visual cortical prosthesis and precision neurostimulation
- Lead program: Orion (investigational)
- Corporate lineage: continuation of Second Sight programs/assets
- Ownership context: subsidiary under Vivani Medical
- Corporate (Jul 2, 2026): Vivani announced a definitive agreement to merge Cortigent into Nasdaq-listed ClearOne, Inc. (to be renamed Cortigent Holdings, ticker CRGT). The deal was announced, not confirmed closed as of this review. Source: 01
What they are building (technical)
Orion is designed as a camera + processing + implant stimulation stack targeting visual cortex, aiming to produce interpretable patterned percepts in profoundly blind users.
Public trial-facing materials describe an early feasibility program, with reported long-term follow-up updates presented by the company.
Stage and evidence posture
Cortigent should be treated as a clinical-stage / investigational company in this domain. Public company communications are useful for timeline updates, while ClinicalTrials and peer-reviewed publications are the strongest anchors for interpretation.
Clinical progress
- Clinical: six-year early feasibility results for Orion were presented in Jan 2026. Source: 02
What to watch
- practical daily functional utility (not just percept generation)
- long-term implant + serviceability stability
- regulatory pathway clarity for pivotal studies/endpoints
Source index
References, research and company reports.