Multi-phasic microphotodiode retinal implant and adaptive imaging retinal stimulation system
First Claim
1. A 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 retinal implant has a light filter layer that selectively permits a first selected bandwidth of light to pass, and where the N-side of the retinal implant has a light filter layer that selectively permits a second selected bandwidth of it 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. Filter layers disposed on the PiN configuration will allow visible light to induce a PiN current, and filter layers disposed on the NiP configuration will allow infrared light to induce a NiP current. 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.
150 Citations
37 Claims
- 1. A 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 retinal implant has a light filter layer that selectively permits a first selected bandwidth of light to pass, and where the N-side of the retinal implant has a light filter layer that selectively permits a second selected bandwidth of it 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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23. A retinal implant comprising two groups of microphotoelectric subunits formed on a substrate, the two groups being of opposite orientation:
- a first group of at least one PiN subunit, and a second group of at least one NiP subunit, each of the subunits having a P+ layer and an N+ layer, such that the P+ layer of the first group is adjacent the N+ layer of the second group.
- View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 32)
- 34. A 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 retinal 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 retinal implant has a light filter layer that selectively permits a selected bandwidth of the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectrum to pass, wherein the retinal implant comprises two of said PiN microphotodiodes, each of the microphotodiodes having an opposite orientation from the other such that when implanted in the eye, the P-side of one microphotodiode will face incident light, and the N-side of the other microphotodiode will face incident light and wherein a common electrode is in electrical contact with both the P-side and the N-side on one side of the retinal implant and another common electrode is in electrical contact with both the P-side and the N-side on the other side of the retinal implant, 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.
Specification