VISION REGENERATION ASSISTING APPARATUS

• US 20080183243A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidek Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nidek Company Limited
• Inventors: SHODO, Kenzo
• Granted Patent: US 7,941,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye

Abstract

A vision regeneration assisting apparatus for regenerating vision of a patient includes an extracorporeal device and an intracorporeal device. The extracorporeal device includes a transmitting unit that converts an electrical stimulation pulse signal data of image data and power into a predetermined signal and transmitting the signal. The intracorporeal device includes a receiving unit that receives the signal transmitted from the transmitting unit, and a conductor that is covered with a resin having biocompatibility and insulating property and electrically connects a first control unit for converting the received stimulation pulse signal data and the power into a predetermined alternating current signal and a second control unit for outputting an electrical stimulation pulse signal from electrodes based on the alternating current signal to each other to send the alternating current signal.

Claims

1. A vision regeneration assisting apparatus for regenerating vision of a patient, comprising:

an extracorporeal device and an intracorporeal device,

wherein the extracorporeal device includes

an image pickup unit,

a processing unit that converts image data obtained by the image pickup into electrical stimulation pulse signal data, and

a transmitting unit that converts the electrical stimulation pulse signal data and power into a predetermined signal and transmitting the signal, and

wherein the intracorporeal device includes

a receiving unit that receives the signal transmitted from the transmitting unit,

a first control unit that extracts the electrical stimulation pulse signal data and the power from the signal received by the receiving unit to convert the electrical stimulation pulse signal data and the power into a predetermined alternating current signal,

a second control unit that is provided separately at a position distant from the first control unit and outputs an electrical stimulation pulse signal from a plurality of electrodes based on the alternating current signal from the first control unit, and

a conductor that is covered with a resin having biocompatibility and insulating property and electrically connects the first control unit and the second control unit to each other to send the alternating current signal.

2. The vision regeneration assisting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first control unit generates the electrical stimulation pulse signal based on the extracted electrical stimulation pulse signal data and converts the generated electrical stimulation pulse signal and the power into the alternating current signal.

3. A vision regeneration assisting apparatus for regenerating vision of a patient, comprising:

an extracorporeal device and an intracorporeal device,

wherein the extracorporeal device includes

an image pickup unit,

a processing unit that converts image data obtained by the image pickup into electrical stimulation pulse signal data, and

a transmitting unit that converts the electrical stimulation pulse signal data and power into a predetermined signal and transmitting the signal,

wherein the intracorporeal device includes

a receiving unit that receives the signal transmitted from the transmitting unit,

a first control unit that extracts the electrical stimulation pulse signal data and the power from the signal received by the receiving unit to convert the electrical stimulation pulse signal data and the power into a predetermined alternating current signal,

a second control unit that is provided separately at a position distant from the first control unit and outputs an electrical stimulation pulse signal from a plurality of electrodes based on the alternating current signal from the first control unit, and

a conductor that is covered with a resin having biocompatibility and insulating property and electrically connects the first control unit and the second control unit to each other to send the alternating current signal, and

wherein a charge amount per half wave of the alternating current signal is set so that, when the conductor is exposed and wetted by bodily fluid, a charge amount per unit area discharged from the conductor does not cause electrical decomposition of the bodily fluid.

4. The vision regeneration assisting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first control unit generates the electrical stimulation pulse signal based on the extracted electrical stimulation pulse signal data and converts the generated electrical stimulation pulse signal and the power into the alternating current signal.

5. A vision regeneration assisting apparatus for regenerating vision of a patient, comprising:

an extracorporeal device and an intracorporeal device,

wherein the extracorporeal device includes

an image pickup unit,

a processing unit that converts image data obtained by the image pickup into electrical stimulation pulse signal data, and

a transmitting unit that converts the electrical stimulation pulse signal data and power into a predetermined signal and transmitting the signal,

wherein the intracorporeal device includes

a receiving unit that receives the signal transmitted from the transmitting unit,

a first control unit that extracts the electrical stimulation pulse signal data and the power from the signal received by the receiving unit to convert the electrical stimulation pulse signal data and the power into a predetermined alternating current signal,

a second control unit that is provided separately at a position distant from the first control unit and outputs an electrical stimulation pulse signal from a plurality of electrodes based-on the alternating current signal from the first control unit, and

a conductor that is covered with a resin having biocompatibility and insulating property and electrically connects the first control unit and the second control unit to each other to send the alternating current signal,

wherein the conductor being made from platinum or a platinum alloy, and

wherein a charge amount per half wave of the alternating current signal is set so that, when the conductor is exposed and wetted by bodily fluid, a charge amount per unit area discharged from the conductor is 400 μ

C/cm² or less.

6. The vision regeneration assisting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the charge amount per half wave of the alternating current signals is set so that, when the conductor is exposed and wetted by the bodily fluid, the charge amount per unit area discharged from the conductor is 50 μ

C/cm² or less.

7. The vision regeneration assisting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first control unit generates the electrical stimulation pulse signal based on the extracted electrical stimulation pulse signal data and converts the generated electrical stimulation pulse signal and the power into the alternating current signal.