Scanning laser device and methods of use

• US 20050015120A1
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Washington University In St Louis
• Original Assignee: Washington University In St Louis
• Inventors: Seibel, Eric J., Miller, Blake, Reh, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,311,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/08 Devices or methods enabling eye-patients to replace direct visual perception by another kind of perception

Abstract

In one aspect, the invention provides vision prosthesis systems. Exemplary vision prosthesis systems of the invention comprise a light energy generator operably connected to a wearable head piece comprising a device for directing light energy produced by the light energy generator onto a mammalian retina, wherein the light energy generator is tuned to emit light energy of sufficient power to modulate neural activity in the retina. In another aspect, the invention provides methods for irradiating neurons in the retina of the mammalian eye by directing light energy produced by a light energy generator onto a mammalian retina. The methods of the invention may be used to directly modulate the activity of retinal neurons or to introduce molecules into retinal cells.

Claims

1. A vision prosthesis system, comprising a light energy generator operably connected to a wearable head piece comprising a device for directing light energy produced by the light energy generator onto a mammalian retina, wherein the light energy generator is tuned to emit light energy of sufficient power to modulate neural activity in the retina and wherein the power level of light energy emitted between about 400 and 700 nm wavelengths is greater than about 1 mW.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the light energy generator is tuned to emit visible light energy.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the light energy generator is tuned to emit ultraviolet light energy.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the light energy generator is tuned to emit infrared light energy.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the light energy generator is selected from the group consisting of a laser, a laser diode, a mercury arc lamp, and a light-emitting diode.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the laser is selected from the group consisting of a femtosecond-pulsed infrared laser and a picosecond-pulsed infrared laser.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the device for directing light energy onto the mammalian retina is a scanner.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the scanner is selected from the group consisting of a fiber optic scanner, a mirror scanner, and an acousto-optical deflector.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the scanner is a non-resonant scanner.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising an image source operably connected to the image processor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the image source is a camera.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is controlled by a computer.

13. A vision prosthesis system, comprising:

a light energy generator tuned to emit light energy of sufficient power to modulate neural activity in the retina, wherein the power level of light energy emitted between about 400 and 700 nm wavelengths is greater than about 1 mW;

a wearable head piece comprising a scanner and an ocular lens, wherein the scanner is operably connected to the light energy generator and configured for scanning light energy produced by the light energy generator onto a mammalian retina, and wherein the ocular lens is operably connected to the scanner for focusing the light energy onto the retina; and

an image processor operably connected to an image source and configured to transmit electrical signals corresponding to an image to the scanner.

14. A method for irradiating neurons in the retina of a mammalian eye, comprising the step of directing light energy onto a mammalian retina using a visual prosthesis system to directly modulate the activity of a retinal neuron, the visual prosthesis system comprising a light energy generator operably connected to a wearable head piece comprising a device for directing light energy produced by the light energy generator onto a mammalian retina, wherein the light energy generator is tuned to emit light energy of sufficient power to modulate neural activity in the retina.

15. A method for modulating neural activity in the retina of a mammalian eye, comprising the step of directing light energy produced by a light energy generator onto a mammalian retina to directly modulate the activity of retinal neurons.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the modulation of neural activity in the retina generates a visual image in the mammal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the light energy is produced by a light energy generator selected from the group consisting of a laser, a laser diode, a mercury arc lamp, and a light-emitting diode.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the light energy produced by a light energy generator is selected from the group consisting of a femtosecond-pulsed infrared laser and a picosecond-pulsed infrared laser.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the light energy is infrared light energy.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the light energy is visible light energy.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the light energy is ultraviolet light energy.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the light energy is scanned in raster format.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the light energy is scanned in vector graphics format.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the eye comprises an artificial lens to focus the light energy onto the retina.

25. A method for introducing a molecule into a retinal cell in vivo, comprising the step of directing light energy produced by a light energy generator onto a mammalian retina in vivo, wherein the retinal cell comprises a plasma membrane and the light energy has a power sufficient to permeabilize the plasma membrane, thereby allowing a molecule outside the retinal cell to enter the retinal cell.

26. A method for introducing a molecule into a retinal cell in vivo, comprising the steps of:

(a) contacting a cell having a plasma membrane in a mammalian retina with a molecule in vivo; and

(b) directing light energy produced by a light energy generator onto the mammalian retina, wherein the light energy has sufficient power to permeabilize the membrane of the contacted cell in the mammalian retina, thereby allowing the molecule to enter the cell.

27. A vision prosthesis system, comprising a wearable head piece comprising a non-resonant scanner operably connected to a light energy generator, wherein the light energy generator is tuned to emit light energy of sufficient power to directly modulate the activity of neurons in a mammalian retina and wherein the scanner is configured for scanning the light energy onto the mammalian retina.