Systems and methods for projecting an image onto a retina
First Claim
1. Apparatus for projecting an image onto the retina of an eye having a substantially impaired cornea, comprisingmeans for generating an image signal representative of a visual image,an image memory element for storing said image signal,projection means, coupled with said image memory element, for generating an optical image signal in response to said image signal, for detection by a retina, and being representative of the visual image, andfocus means for being implanted within an eye at a position anterior to the retina and being optically coupled to said projection means for focusing said optical image signal onto the retina.
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are described that project images onto the retina of an eye. The apparatus can include an image memory element for storing an image signal representative of a visual image, a projection element in electrical circuit with the image memory element for generating an optical image signal of the type suitable for detection by a retina and being representative of the visual image, and a focus element that is adapted for implantation into the eye at a position in the eye which is posterior to the cornea and anterior to the retina and that is optically coupled to the projection element for focusing the optical image onto the retina. The projection element can include a display device that is dimensionally adapted for disposition within the eye at a position posterior to the cornea. The display device can be a liquid crystal display element that has an illuminator element optically coupled to the display device or alternatively can include a laser diode element that optically couples to a scanning mirror that projects light through a damaged cornea.
145 Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus for projecting an image onto the retina of an eye having a substantially impaired cornea, comprising
means for generating an image signal representative of a visual image, an image memory element for storing said image signal, projection means, coupled with said image memory element, for generating an optical image signal in response to said image signal, for detection by a retina, and being representative of the visual image, and focus means for being implanted within an eye at a position anterior to the retina and being optically coupled to said projection means for focusing said optical image signal onto the retina.
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20. Apparatus for projecting an image onto a retina of an eye, comprising
means for generating a data signal, a projection element having a display device dimensioned for implantation into the eye, and a display driver element arranged in circuit with said display device and having means for receiving said data signal and for operating said display device to generate an optically detectable image responsive to said data signal, and a focus element optically coupled with said display device and adapted for focusing said optically detectable image onto the retina of the eye.
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23. A method for projecting an image onto the retina of an eye having a substantially impaired cornea, comprising the steps of
generating an image signal representative of a visual image, storing in a memory element said image signal, generating an optical image signal in response to said image signal, said optical image signal being representative of the visual image, providing a focus element for implantation into the eye at a position anterior to the retina, implanting said focus element within the eye, and projecting said optical image signal to said focus element for focusing said optical image signal onto the retina.
Specification