Method and system for adaptive vision modification

• US 7,486,988 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Goodall, Eleanor V., Hillis, W. Daniel, Jung, Edward K. Y., Hyde, Roderick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOEKSTRA, JEFFREY GERBEN
• Application Number:
  US11/004,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600/382, 600/383, 600/544, 600/545, 600/546, 600/558, 349/13, 351/168, 351/177, 351/211, 351/219, 351/200, 351/41, 359/665, 359/666
• US Class Current: 600/546
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/388 Nerve conduction study, e.g. detecting action potential of peripheral nerves

Abstract

Methods and systems for modifying or enhancing vision are described. In exemplary embodiments, neural or neuromuscular activity is analyzed to determine a focus or other quality of a visual input, and the focus or quality information used as a basis for controlling an adjustable lens system or optical system.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing the vision of a subject with a vision modification system including an adjustable lens system, comprising the steps of:

a) detecting a neuromuscular signal from a nerve or a muscle of the subject;

b) inferring a focal condition based upon said detected neuromuscular signal, wherein there is a known relation between said focal condition and a state of focus of a visual input to an eye of said subject;

c) adjusting the adjustable lens system in response to said focal condition in order to modify said visual input; and

d) repeating steps a) through c) with said vision modification system in order to provide ongoing adaptive vision enhancement to said subject.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising inferring the known relation between said focal condition and the state of focus of said visual input by a protocol comprising:

a) delivering a series of well-defined visual inputs of varying state of focus;

b) detecting a series of neuromuscular signals produced in response to said series of well-defined visual inputs;

c) detecting a focal condition of said series of neuromuscular signals; and

d) inferring a relation between said state of focus of said visual inputs and said focal condition of said neuromuscular signals.

3. The method of claim 2, including performing said protocol prior to providing ongoing adaptive vision enhancement to said subject.

4. The method of claim 2, including performing said protocol at intervals while providing ongoing adaptive vision enhancement to said subject.

5. The method of claim 1, including detecting said neuromuscular signal from a nervous system of said subject.

6. The method of claim 1, including detecting said neuromuscular signal from at least one motor nerve of said subject.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said neuromuscular signal is an electromyographic signal.

8. The method of claim 1, including detecting said neuromuscular signal from at least one of an extraocular muscle, a ciliary muscle, an iris, and a facial muscle of said subject.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said detected neuromuscular signal is an optoelectronic measure of neuromuscular activity.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said detected neuromuscular signal is detected using near infrared imaging.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said detected neuromuscular signal is an optoelectronic measure of at least one indicator of metabolic activity in a neuromuscular structure.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said detected neuromuscular signal is an optoelectronic measure of at least one aspect of blood flow in a neuromuscular structure.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting said adjustable lens system includes adjusting a chromatic aberration correction of said adjustable lens system.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting said adjustable lens system includes adjusting a transverse position of said adjustable lens system with respect to an optical axis of said eye.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting said adjustable lens system includes adjusting an effective aperture of said adjustable lens system.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting said adjustable lens system includes adjusting a transmissivity of said adjustable lens system in at least one spectral waveband.