Visual Prosthesis

• US 20080262570A1
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute, Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. (Vivani Medical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute
• Inventors: Greenberg, Robert J., McClure, Kelly H., McMahon, Matthew J., Humayun, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,244,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

A retinal stimulation system. The retinal stimulation system comprises an electronics package; and at least a first and a second electrode, each associated with the electronics package and configured to apply current to a subject'"'"'s retina; wherein current to be applied by the first electrode and the second electrode is configured to be higher for the first electrode when the first electrode has an impedance lower than a second electrode'"'"'s impedance

Claims

1. A retinal stimulation system configured to stimulate neural tissue in a subject'"'"'s eye, the retinal stimulation system comprising:

an electronics package; and

at least a first and a second electrode, each associated with the electronics package and configured to apply current to a subject'"'"'s retina;

wherein current to be applied by the first electrode and the second electrode is configured to be higher for the first electrode when the first electrode has an impedance lower than a second electrode'"'"'s impedance.

2. The retinal stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the at least first and second electrode are part of an array of electrodes.

3. The retinal stimulation system of claim 2, wherein the array of electrodes is an array of 6×

10 electrodes.

11. A visual prosthesis comprising the retinal stimulation system of claim 1.

4. A device configured to apply current to a load, the device comprising:

a current source; and

at least a first and a second electrode each associated with the current source and configured to apply current to a load;

wherein current to be applied by the first electrode and the second electrode is configured to be higher for the first electrode when the first electrode has an impedance lower than a second electrode'"'"'s impedance.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least first and second electrode are part of an array of electrodes.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the array of electrodes is an array of 6×

10 electrodes.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the load is a retina.

8. A retinal stimulation system configured to stimulate retina'"'"'s neural tissue in a subject'"'"'s eye, the retinal stimulation system comprising:

an electronics package; and

at least a first and a second electrode each associated with the electronics package and configured to apply current to a subject'"'"'s retina;

wherein current to be applied by the first electrode and the second electrode is configured to be higher for the first electrode when the first electrode is disposed farther from a retina than the second electrode.

9. The retinal stimulation system of claim 8, wherein the at least first and second electrode are part of an array of electrodes.

10. The retinal stimulation system of claim 9, wherein the array of electrodes is an array of 6×

10 electrodes.