Multi-phasic microphotodiode retinal implant and adaptive imaging retinal stimulation system
First Claim
1. A microscopic retinal implant for electrically inducing formed vision in the eye, comprising a PiN microphotodiode having a P-Side and an N-Side, where the P side of the implant has a light filter layer that selectively permits a selected bandwidth of the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectrum to pass, and where the N-side of the implant has a light filter layer that selectively permits a selected bandwidth of the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectrum to pass, whereby the retinal implant can stimulate the retina regardless of whether the P-side or the N-side is oriented toward light incident to the eye.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An artificial retina device and a method for stimulating and modulating its function is disclosed. The artificial retina device is comprised of plural multi-phasic microphotodiode subunits. In persons suffering from blindness due to outer retinal layer damage, a plurality of such devices, when surgically implanted into the subretinal space, may allow useful formed artificial vision to develop. One device, called a MMRI-4, transduces light into electric currents to stimulate the retina. The four microphotodiode subunits of the MMRI-4 are oriented so that each flattened sides of the MMRI-4 has two subunits in a PiN configuration and two subunits in a NiP configuration. By projecting real or computer controlled visible light images, and computer controlled infrared light images or illumination, simultaneously or in rapid alternation onto the MMRI-4s, the nature of induced retinal images may be modulated and improved. An Adaptive Imaging Retinal Stimulation System (AIRES), with a Projection and Tracking Optical System (PTOS), which may be worn as a headset is used for this purpose, and is also disclosed. Color images may even be induced by programming the stimulating pulse durations and frequencies of the AIRES system.
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Citations
46 Claims
- 1. A microscopic retinal implant for electrically inducing formed vision in the eye, comprising a PiN microphotodiode having a P-Side and an N-Side, where the P side of the implant has a light filter layer that selectively permits a selected bandwidth of the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectrum to pass, and where the N-side of the implant has a light filter layer that selectively permits a selected bandwidth of the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectrum to pass, whereby the retinal implant can stimulate the retina regardless of whether the P-side or the N-side is oriented toward light incident to the eye.
- 20. A method of restoring formed vision to a patient having retinal damage, comprising implanting plural implants into the patient'"'"'s eye adjacent the retina, each implant comprising a PiN microphotodiode having a P-side and an N-side, where the P side of the implant has a light filter layer that selectively permits a selected bandwidth of the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectrum to pass, and where the N-side of the implant has a light filter layer that selectively permits the a selected bandwidth of the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectrum to pass, whereby the retinal implant can stimulate the retina regardless of whether the P-side or the N-side is oriented toward light incident to the eye so that the patient can perceive visual forms.
- 31. An implant for creating formed vision in the eye, comprising at least two microphotodiode subunits with one being PiN and the other being NiP, so that each of the two subunits has opposite PiN and NiP orientations whereby when the implant is placed in the eye so as to receive incident light, one of the subunits has a PiN configuration relative to incident light and the other subunit has a NiP configuration relative to incident light.
- 36. A method of restoring formed vision to a patient having retinal damage, comprising implanting plural implants into the patient'"'"'s eye adjacent the retina, each implant comprising at least two microphotodiode subunits, each of the two subunits having opposite PiN and NiP orientations whereby when the implant is placed in the eye so as to receive incident light, one of the subunits has a PiN configuration relative to incident light and the other subunit has a NiP configuration relative to incident light.
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46. A method of restoring formed vision to a patient having retinal damage, comprising implanting plural implants into the patient'"'"'s eye on the nerve fiber layer, each implant comprising a PiN microphotodiode having a P-electrode and an N-electrode, where the P and the N electrodes each contain a projection such that the at least some of the P and the N electrodes of the plural implants penetrate into each of the sublamina A and B layers of the inner plexiform layer.
Specification