▁The ▁devices ▁also ▁require ▁a ▁power - plant ▁to ▁be ▁inserted ▁behind ▁the ▁ear , ▁in ▁the ▁manner ▁of ▁a ▁co ch lear ▁impl ant . ▁ ▁The ▁pilot - tri al ▁of ▁ 2 2 ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁tested ▁the ▁Al pha ▁I MS ▁device . ▁The ▁supporting ▁power - plant ▁procedure ▁was ▁carried ▁out ▁by ▁sur geon ▁Mr . ▁James ▁R ams den ▁with ▁Mr . ▁Mark us ▁Gro ppe . ▁The ▁main ▁operation ▁was ▁undert aken , ▁at ▁Oxford , ▁by ▁Mac L aren ▁with ▁Mr . ▁Tim ▁Jackson , ▁consult ant ▁sur geon ▁at ▁Kings ▁College ▁Hospital . ▁The ▁patient ▁was ▁Chris ▁James , ▁a ▁council - worker ▁from ▁W ilt shire . ▁Mac L aren ▁suggested ▁that ▁if ▁the ▁trial ▁were ▁successful , ▁an ▁electronic ▁ret ina ▁could ▁become ▁standard ▁for ▁patients ▁with ▁ret init is ▁p ig ment osa ▁( R P ). ▁He ▁war ned ▁that ▁current ▁devices ▁were ▁not ▁suitable ▁to ▁treat ▁age - related ▁mac ular ▁deg ener ation ▁( AM D ) ▁or ▁dise ases ▁of ▁the ▁opt ic - ner ve , ▁such ▁as ▁gla u com a . ▁The ▁following ▁week , ▁Mr . ▁Jackson , ▁with ▁Prof . ▁Mac L aren , ▁operated ▁on ▁Robin ▁Mill ar , ▁a ▁music - produ cer , ▁in ▁London ; ▁another ▁four ▁UK ▁patients ▁also ▁received ▁the ▁device ▁during ▁that ▁year . ▁ ▁On ▁ 8 ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁the ▁improved ▁Al pha ▁A MS ▁device