Visual prosthesis apparatus and method

• US 5,159,927 A
• Filed: 04/05/1991
• Issued: 11/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ferdinand Schmid
• Original Assignee: Ferdinand Schmid
• Inventors: Schmid, Ferdinand
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHAETZLE, KENNEDY
• Application Number:
  US07/681,101
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 623/4, 128/419 R, 358/94, 358/209
• US Class Current: 607/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/08 Devices or methods enabling eye-patients to replace direct visual perception by another kind of perception
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye

Abstract

A visual prosthesis apparatus for operative insertion in the optical pathway to the brain of an individual who has an eye which is blind or partially blind. The prosthesis apparatus utilizes a video camera capable of generating video signals in response to the viewing of an image. The apparatus also includes a prosthesis device or so-called insert for insertion in the eye socket in place of the diseased or damaged eye. A cable is provided for electrically connecting the output of a video camera to the insert and for delivering video signals over individual conductors in this cable to the insert. An optical nerve connecting assembly is located in the insert and has terminals for connections to the individual conductors of the cable and to the optical nerves. In this way, there is an electrical connection between each conductor and an optical nerve through the nerve connecting assembly for delivering the individual video signals to the brain. A method of using this prosthesis is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A visual prothesis apparatus for operative insertion in the optical pathway to the brain of an individual having an eye which is blind or partially blind, said apparatus comprising:

a) a video camera having means for generating a plurality of individual video signals in response to viewing of an image over a period of time,

b) an insert for implantation in the eye socket in place of the eye which is blind or partially blind,

c) connecting means in said insert enabling receipt of video signals from the video camera and having a number of individual terminals so that each terminal will carry a separate one of the video signals,

d) cable means for electrically connecting the video camera to the connecting means in said insert and for delivering the video signals to the insert, the cable means carrying the individual video signals generated by said video camera to the individual terminals of said connecting means,

e) an optical nerve connecting assembly in said insert and having a plurality of individual nerve connecting terminals connected to said terminals of said connecting means such that each individual terminals of the connecting means receives a separate one of the video signals, and said nerve connecting assembly having communication means for causing electrical communication between each terminal and an optical nerve of the individual so that each optical nerve can receive the separate video signal associated with that optical nerve.

2. The visual prothesis apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said cable means comprises:

a) a first connector for connection to a video signal outlet on said video camera, and

b) a second connector for connection to a mating video signal adapter in said insert and for delivering video signals generated by said camera thereto.

3. The visual prothesis apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said optical nerve connecting assembly comprises:

a) a first plate having a plurality of contact pins with each for connection to a separate and individual conductor of said cable means,

b) a second plate having a plurality of openings with each to receive a separate one of the optical nerves,

c) said first and second plates being arranged so that each contact pin can be connected to a separate one of the individual optical nerves and where the signals received at each contact pin in combination represent the image viewed by the video camera, and

d) whereby each optical nerve receives a separate signal representative of a portion of the viewed image and where all of the signals from each of the conductors will in combination and proper orientation represent a complete visual image.

4. The visual prothesis apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that the first and second plates of said optical nerve connecting assembly are abutted against one another so that each of the nerves in said openings come into contact with the contact pins.

5. The visual prothesis apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said insert comprises an interior chamber which holds said optical nerve connecting assembly and said adapter extends into said chamber.

6. The visual prothesis apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said apparatus comprises a harness means capable of being worn on a head of a user of the apparatus and the harness means carries the video camera.

7. A visual prothesis device for insertion in the eye socket of an individual in place of an eye which is blind or partially blind, said prothesis device comprises:

a) connector means for receiving a plurality of video signals of an image on separate conductors and where all of the video signals in combination represent the image,

b) a housing having an interior cavity therein,

c) an adapter connected to connector means and said adapter extending and being comprised of;

1) a first plate having a plurality of contact pins with each for connection to a separate and individual conductor to said connecting means,

2) a second plate having a plurality of openings with each to receive a separate one of the optical nerves, and

3) said first and second plates being arranged so that each contact pin can be connected to a separate one of the individual optical nerves and whereby each optical nerve receives a signal representative of a portion of the viewed image and where all of the signals from each of the conductors represent a complete visual image.

8. The visual prothesis device of claim 7 further characterized in that the first and second plates of said optical nerve connecting assembly are abutted so that ends of the nerves in said openings come into contact with the contact pins.

9. The visual prothesis device of claim 7 further characterized in that said device is representative of an eye which it replaces.

10. The visual prothesis device of claim 9 further characterized in that said cavity is hermetically sealed with respect to the external atmosphere.

11. A process for improving the sight of an individual having an eye which is blind or partially blind by use of a prothesis apparatus operatively inserted in the optical pathway to the brain of the individual, said process comprising:

a) generating a plurality of individual video signals by a video camera in response to viewing of an image and where each of the video signals in combination represent a composite of the image viewed over a selected period of time,

b) removing an eye which is blind or partially blind from an eye socket and inserting a prothesis device into the eye socket,

c) connecting a cable from the video camera to the prothesis device and which cable contains a separate conductor for each video signal to enable receipt of video signals from the video camera and each conductor having a terminal with each carrying a separate one of the individual video signals,

d) determining the correct combination of each conductor and each optical nerve so that the conductors carrying a signal representation of the viewed image are connected to the proper nerves so that all signals in proper orientation will recreate the visual image, and

e) connecting the terminal of each conductor to a separate one of the optical nerves so that each optical nerve is connected to a separate conductor and each optical nerve receiving a separate video signal associated with that optical nerve, so that all of the video signals in combination can be used to recreate the visual image.

12. The process of claim 11 further characterized in that the number of conductors is approximately equal to the number of nerves.

13. The process of claim 11 further characterized in that the process comprises connecting the terminal of each said conductor through a separate one of a plurality of terminal pins to a separate one of the optical nerves.

14. In a visual prothesis apparatus having a prothesis device which is provided for operative insertion into the eye socket of an individual in the optical pathway to the brain of the individual having an eye which is blind or partially blind, said prothesis device receiving a plurality of electrical signals from a video camera forming part of said apparatus in response to viewing an image and which signals are connected through a connecting means associated with said prothesis device to an optical nerve so that each optical nerve receives a separate electrical signal and where each of the electrical circuit for processing the electrical signals into a form where they can be combined to represent the composite of the viewed image, said electrical circuit comprising:

a) a converter for receiving each signal and converting each said signal to an equivalent D.C. signal,

b) a video amplification section receiving the converted D.C. signal for increasing the peak gain of the converted D.C. signal to provide a peak average signal,

c) a horizontal and vertical centering circuit arrangement connected to said video amplification section for centering an image which is to be generated by the video camera, and

d) video processing clipping means receiving the peak average signals of the video amplification section and processing the amplified signals for generating an output signal.

15. The electrical circuit for use with the prothesis apparatus of claim 14 further characterized in that said horizontal and vertical centering circuit arrangement comprises a separate horizontal centering circuit and a separate vertical centering circuit arrangement.

16. The electrical circuit for use with the prothesis apparatus of claim 14 further characterized in that a horizontal driver is operatively coupled to an output from the video pre-amplifier.

17. The electrical circuit for use with the prothesis apparatus of claim 14 further characterized in that a blank mixer provides an input to the clipping video processing means.

18. A visual prothesis device for insertion in the eye socket of an individual in place of an eye which is blind or partially blind, said prothesis device comprises:

a) connector means for receiving a plurality of video signals of an image on separate conductors and where all of the video signals in combination represent the image,

b) a housing having an interior cavity therein, said housing having a size and shape similar to that of an eye which it is to replace so as to represent that eye,

c) an adapter with said housing connected to connector means and said adapter extending into said interior cavity,

d) an optical nerve connecting assembly in said interior cavity and being comprised of;

1) a first plate having a plurality of contact pins with each for connection to a separate and individual conductor to said connecting means,

2) a second plate having a plurality of openings with each to receive a separate one of the optical nerves, and

3) said first and second plates being arranged so that each contact pin can be connected to a separate one of the individual optical nerves and whereby each optical nerve receives a signal representative of a portion of the viewed image and where all of the signals from each of the conductors represent a complete visual image.

19. The visual prothesis device of claim 18 further characterized in that said cavity is hermetically sealed with respect to the external atmosphere.