Visual Prosthesis

• US 20080046033A1
• Filed: 10/28/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cortigent Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Roy, Arup, Yadav, Sumit, McClure, Kelly, McCord, Susan, Castro, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 10,052,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0543 Retinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

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.

Claims

1. A visual prosthesis apparatus comprising:

a camera for capturing a video image;

a video processing unit associated with the camera, the video processing unit configured to convert the video image to stimulation patterns and comprising a speaker to provide audible alerts to indicate various operational conditions of the apparatus; and

a retinal stimulation system configured to stimulate neural tissue in a subject'"'"'s eye based on the stimulation patterns.

2. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the video processing unit is configured to do at least one of a) through k) with audio signals from the speaker:

a) to indicate that the video processing unit is going through system start-up diagnostic testing;

b) to indicate that the video processing unit is operating normally;

c) to indicate that the retinal stimulation system has a problem that was detected at start-up diagnostic;

d) to indicate that a signal from the camera is not being received by the video processing unit;

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;

f) to indicate if there is a problem with the retinal stimulation system;

g) to indicate that a button has been pressed;

h) to indicate that the video processing unit is turned off;

i) to indicate that the video processing unit is starting up;

j) to indicate that an error has occurred and the video processing unit is about to shut down automatically; and

k) to indicate a low battery voltage warning.

3. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 2, wherein the audio signals from the speaker are beeps.

4. The visual prosthesis apparatus of claim 3, wherein the audio signals from the speaker are prerecorded voice.

5. A video processing unit configured to convert a video image to stimulation patterns for stimulating neural tissue in a subject'"'"'s eye and comprising at least one indicator light to provide visual indication of an operating status of at least the video processing unit.

6. The video processing unit of claim 5, wherein the video processing unit comprises:

filters for processing and reducing resolution of the video image; and

a mapping function to adjust a stimulation intensity of the stimulation patterns.

7. The video processing unit of claim 5, 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 a camera.

8. The video processing unit of claim 7, wherein at least two of the buttons on the video processing unit are of different shape to help identify functionality of each button.

9. The video processing unit of claim 7, wherein at least one of the buttons on the video processing unit comprises at least one identifying marking.

10. The video processing unit of claim 5, wherein the video processing unit comprises:

a first connector port for connecting the video processing unit to a 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.

11. The video processing unit of claim 5, wherein the video processing unit is configured to shut off power to the retinal stimulation system in case of malfunction of an implant or the video processing unit.

12. The video processing unit of claim 5, 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 an implant has a problem that was detected at start-up diagnostic by changing color and/or blinking;

d) to indicate that a signal from a 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 implant and the video processing unit while the implant is operational by changing color and/or blinking; and

f) to indicate if there is a problem with the implant by changing color and/or blinking.

13. A video processing unit configured to convert a video image to stimulation patterns for stimulating neural tissue in a subject'"'"'s eye and comprises a speaker to provide audible alerts to indicate various operational conditions of at least the video processing unit.

14. The video processing unit of claim 13, wherein the video processing unit is configured to do at least one of a) through k) with audio signals from the speaker:

a) to indicate that the video processing unit is going through system start-up diagnostic testing;

b) to indicate that the video processing unit is operating normally;

c) to indicate that an implant has a problem that was detected at start-up diagnostic;

d) to indicate that a signal from a camera is not being received by the video processing unit;

e) to indicate that there is a loss of communication between the implant and the video processing unit while the visual prosthesis apparatus is operational;

f) to indicate if there is a problem with the implant;

g) to indicate that a button has been pressed;

h) to indicate that the video processing unit is turned off;

i) to indicate that the video processing unit is starting up;

j) to indicate that an error has occurred and the video processing unit is about to shut down automatically; and

k) to indicate a low battery voltage warning.

15. The video processing unit of claim 14, wherein the audio signals from the speaker are beeps.

16. The video processing unit of claim 15, wherein the audio signals from the speaker are prerecorded voice.

17. A method for providing artificial vision, the method comprising:

capturing a video image;

converting the video image to stimulation patterns;

providing a visual indication of operating status of a system; and

stimulating neural tissue in a subject'"'"'s eye based on the stimulation patterns.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein stimulation of the neural tissue is performed by a retinal stimulation system implanted in the subject and conversion of the video image is performed by a video processing unit.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

providing an external inductive coil electrically connected with the video processing unit; and

providing an internal inductive coil electrically connected with the retinal stimulation system, wherein both coils facilitate communication between the video processing unit and the retinal stimulation system.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein converting the video image to stimulation patterns comprises:

filtering the video image;

reducing resolution of the video image; and

adjusting stimulation intensity for the stimulation patterns.