Logarithmic light intensifier for use with photoreceptor-based implanted retinal prosthetics and those prosthetics
First Claim
1. A retinal prosthesis comprising:
- a light receiver for collection of a received visual image;
an amplifier coupled to said light receiver, amplifying said received visual image in accordance with a non-linear transfer function;
an electrode array coupled to said amplifier suitable for stimulating a retina; and
control means for interrupting said signal between a positive and a negative pulse.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is for directly modulating a beam of photons onto the retinas of patients who have extreme vision impairment or blindness. Its purpose is to supply enough imaging energy to retinal prosthetics implanted in the eye which operate essentially by having light (external to the eye) activating photoreceptors, or photo-electrical material. The invention provides sufficient light amplification and does it logarithmically. While it has sufficient output light power, the output light level still remains at a safe level. Most preferred embodiments of this invention provide balanced biphasic stimulation with no net charge injection into the eye. Both optical and electronic magnification for the image, as for example, using an optical zoom lens, is incorporated. Otherwise, it would not be feasible to zoom in on items of particular interest or necessity. Without proper adjustment, improper threshold amplitudes would obtain, as well as uncomfortable maximum thresholds. Therefore, to adjust for these, a way of proper adjustment for the threshold amplitudes and maximum comfortable thresholds is provided. Furthermore, to the extent that individual stimulation sites in the retina give different color perceptions, upon stimulation, then colors of the viewed scene is correlated with specific stimulation sites to provide a certain amount of color vision.
22 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A retinal prosthesis comprising:
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a light receiver for collection of a received visual image; an amplifier coupled to said light receiver, amplifying said received visual image in accordance with a non-linear transfer function; an electrode array coupled to said amplifier suitable for stimulating a retina; and control means for interrupting said signal between a positive and a negative pulse. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a retinal prosthesis comprising:
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receiving a received visual image; amplifying said received visual image in accordance with a non-linear transfer function to produce an amplified visual image; energizing an electrode array according to said amplified visual image; and temporarily interrupting said received visual image. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification