Visual prosthesis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9764134-B2
Application number	US-88143307-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2007
Priority date	Jul 28, 2006
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A visual prosthesis apparatus and a method for providing artificial vision are disclosed in the present disclosure. The visual prosthesis apparatus comprises a camera for capturing a video image, a video processing unit configured to convert the video image to stimulation patterns, and a retinal stimulation system configured stimulate neural tissue in a subjects eye based on the stimulation patterns. An artificial vision may be provided by capturing a video image, converting the video image to stimulation patterns, and stimulating neural tissue in a subjects eye based on the stimulation patterns.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A visual prosthesis apparatus comprising:
a camera for capturing a video image;
a video processing unit, within a housing, including a connector on an outside surface of the housing, suitable for a user to detachably connect, disconnect and reconnect, the camera to the video processing unit the connector suitable to transmit the video image to the video processing unit;
the video processing unit configured to convert the video image to stimulation patterns, to wirelessly transmit the stimulation patterns to a retinal stimulation system, wirelessly receive operational status signals from the retinal stimulation system, and comprising one or more indicator lights providing multiple indications to provide visual indication of operating status of the apparatus including safety and operational status signals received wirelessly from the retinal stimulation system, including an indication when video from the detachably connected camera is not received by the video processing system; and
the retinal stimulation system configured to wirelessly receive the stimulation patterns and wirelessly transmit error signals to the video processing unit and to stimulate neural tissue in a subject's eye based on the stimulation patterns, and
the one or more indicator lights being configured to be of different colors or emitting light with different blinking patterns, wherein said multiple indications are based on different combinations of colors or different blinking patterns.

2. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a fitting system connected with the video processing unit, the fitting system adapted to modify parameters in the video processing unit.

3. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retinal stimulation system comprises:
an electronics package;
an inductive coil electrically coupled to the electronics package;
an electrode array disposed on the subject's retina; and
a cable electrically coupling the electronics package and the electrode array.

4. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the inductive coil comprises a receiver and transmitter antennae made from wound wire.

5. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the electronics package comprises an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) for processing the stimulation patterns and generating an output to stimulate the neural tissue in the subject's eye.

6. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a second inductive coil, wherein the stimulation patterns and power are transmitted to the electronics package by the second inductive coil through the inductive coil of the retinal stimulation system.

7. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an external inductive coil configured to transmit the stimulation patterns to the retinal stimulation system using radio-frequency (RF).

8. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the external inductive coil comprises a receiver and transmitter antennae and a radio-frequency (RF) electronics card for communicating with the retinal stimulation system.

9. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the external inductive coil and the camera are disposed on a pair of glasses.

10. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the video processing unit comprises:
filters for processing and reducing resolution of the captured video image; and
a mapping function to adjust a stimulation intensity of the stimulation patterns.

11. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the video processing unit comprises:
a power button for turning the video processing unit on and off,
a settings button for controlling the video processing unit; and
zoom buttons for controlling the camera.

12. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least two of the buttons of the video processing unit are of different shape to help identify a functionality of each button.

13. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the buttons of the video processing unit comprises at least one identification marking.

14. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the video processing unit comprises:
a first connector port for connecting the video processing unit to the camera; and
a second connector port for connecting the video processing unit to a fitting system adapted to modify parameters in the video processing unit.

15. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one indicator light is configured to do at least one of a) through f):
a) to indicate that the video processing unit is going through system start-up diagnostic testing by changing color and/or blinking;
b) to indicate that the video processing unit is operating normally by changing color and/or blinking;
c) to indicate that the retinal stimulation system has a problem that was detected at start-up diagnostic by changing color and/or blinking;
d) to indicate that a signal from the camera is not being received by the video processing unit by changing color and/or blinking;
e) to indicate that there is a loss of communication between the retinal stimulation system and the video processing unit while the visual prosthesis apparatus is operational by changing color and/or blinking; and
f) to indicate if there is a problem with the retinal stimulation system by changing color and/or blinking.

16. The visual prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the multiple indications include flashing.

17. The visual prosthesis according to claim 16 , wherein the multiple indications include flashing at varying rates.

18. The visual prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the camera is supported on glasses and the video processing unit includes a connector port for connecting to glasses.

19. The visual prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the video processing unit is a manually portable unit.

20. The visual prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the video processing unit comprises a manually portable case and a plurality of buttons located on the case, the buttons being different from each other, to allow a user to identify different functionality associated with the buttons.

21. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the video processing unit is configured to shut off power to the retinal stimulation system in case of malfunction of the retinal stimulation system or the video processing unit.

22. A video processing unit configured to convert a video image to stimulation patterns for stimulating neural tissue in a subject's eye, wirelessly transmit the stimulation patterns to a stimulation system and wirelessly receive operational status signals from the stimulation system, the video processing unit being a structurally independent unit including a housing and a connector on an outside surface of the housing suitable for a user to detachably connect, disconnect and reconnect a camera, the connector suitable to transmit the video image to the video processing unit and comprising one or more indicator lights to provide visual indication of an operating status of the video processing unit and safety and operational status signals received wirelessly from the stimulation system, wherein the one or more indicator lights are configured to be of different colors or emitting light with different blinking patterns, wherein said multiple indications are based on different combinations of colors or different blin

Assignees

• Mcclure Kelly H
• Roy Arup
• Yadav Sumit
• Castro Richard Agustin
• Mccord Susan
• Second Sight Medical Products Inc

Inventors

• Mcclure Kelly H
• Roy Arup
• Yadav Sumit
• Castro Richard Agustin
• Mccord Susan

Classifications

• A61N1/0543

  Retinal electrodes · CPC title

• A61N1/36046 Primary

  of the eye · CPC title

• A61N1/3787

  from an external energy source · CPC title