Visual Prosthesis

• US 20080262571A1
• 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.
• Original Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute
• Inventors: Greenberg, Robert J., McClure, Kelly H., McMahon, Matthew J., Humayun, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,239,034 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 method to provide visual current feedback of a retinal stimulation system. The method comprising: providing 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; and providing a visual interface configured to show impedance of at least one of the electrodes.

Claims

1. A method to provide visual current feedback of a retinal stimulation system, the method comprising:

providing 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; and

providing a visual interface configured to show impedance of at least one of the electrodes.

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

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the array of electrodes is an array of 6×

10 electrodes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual interface is configured to determine impedance for the at least first electrode and second electrode by:

applying current through the first electrode and second electrode;

determining voltage drop across the first electrode and second electrode; and

calculating impedance of the first electrode and second electrode based on the voltage drop across the first electrode and second electrode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the current being applied to the electrodes when determining impedance of the electrodes is below a threshold current required to create perception of light by the subject.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining impedance of the electrodes is performed continuously or manually.

7. A method for providing visual current feedback when implanting electrodes in a subject'"'"'s retina, the method comprising:

a) temporarily placing electrodes in a subject'"'"'s retina;

b) determining impedance of the placed electrodes;

c) monitoring impedance of at least one of the electrodes using a visual interface;

d) repeating features a) and c) until impedance of the electrodes is ideal for permanent implanting of the electrodes.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the electrodes are part of an array of electrodes.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the array of electrodes is an array of 6×

10 electrodes.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein determining impedance of the electrodes comprises:

applying current through the electrodes;

determining voltage drop across each of the electrodes; and

calculating impedance of each electrode based on the voltage drop across each electrode.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the current applied to the electrodes when determining the impedance of the electrodes is below a threshold current required to create perception of light by the subject.

12. A computer-operated system comprising a display component, the display component having a graphical user interface associated with the method for implanting electrodes in a subject'"'"'s retina, the method comprising:

a) placing electrodes in a subject'"'"'s retina;

b) determining impedance of the placed electrodes;

c) repeating features a) and b) until impedance of the electrodes is ideal for implanting of the electrodes; and

the graphical user interface comprising;

a diagnostic module screen; and

a measure impedance button.

13. The computer-operated system of claim 12, wherein the electrodes are part of an array of electrodes.

14. The computer-operated system of claim 13, wherein the array of electrodes is an array of 6×

10 electrodes.

15. A computer implemented method for testing impedance of electrodes, the method comprising:

a) setting a counter to an initial value;

b) incrementing the value of the counter;

c) stimulating an electrode that corresponds to the value of the counter;

d) measuring a voltage drop across the stimulated electrode; and

e) repeating features b) through d) until the value of the counter reflects the total number of electrodes being tested.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

f) repeating features a) through e) in case the impedance testing of the electrodes is continuous.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

f) repeating features a) through e) upon request of a user.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 15, wherein the value of the counter is incremented by one.

19. A method to provide visual current feedback when determining which electrode is to be in contact with a subject'"'"'s retina, the method comprising:

applying current to a plurality of electrodes implanted in the subject'"'"'s eye;

determining impedance of each electrode of the plurality of electrodes;

providing a visual interface configured to show impedance of at least one of the electrodes; and

establishing the electrode with the highest impedance as the electrode in contact with the subject'"'"'s retina.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality electrode are part of an array of electrodes.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the array of electrodes is an array of 6×

10 electrodes.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein determining impedance of each electrode comprises:

determining voltage drop across each of the electrodes; and

calculating impedance of each electrode based on the voltage drop across each electrode.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the current being applied to the electrodes is below a threshold current required to create perception of light by the subject.