Active retina implant with a multiplicity of pixel elements

• US 7,751,896 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Retina Implant AG
• Original Assignee: Retina Implant AG
• Inventors: Stelzle, Martin, Nisch, Wilfried, Graf, Heinz-Gerhard, Stett, Alfred, Dollberg, Alexander, Zrenner, Eberhart, Haemmerle, Hugo, Hoefflinger, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stice; Paula J
• Application Number:
  US11/305,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 607/53, 607/54, 623/6.63
• US Class Current: 607/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye

Abstract

An active retina implant has a multiplicity of pixel elements that convert incident light into electric stimulation signals for cells of the retina with which stimulation electrodes are to make contact. Each pixel element is provided with at least one image cell that converts incident light into electric signals, there being provided at least one amplifier whose input is connected to the image cell and whose output is connected to at least one stimulation electrode to which it supplies a stimulation signal. Also provided is an energy supply which provides externally coupled external energy as supply voltage for the image cells and the amplifiers. The image cell has a logarithmic characteristic according to which incident light of specific intensity is converted into electric signals of specific amplitude. The stimulation signal is supplied in the form of analog voltage pulses of specific pulse length and pulse spacings, the pulse amplitude being a function of the intensity of the incident light.

Claims

1. An active retina implant with a multiplicity of pixel elements that convert incident light into electric stimulation signals for cells of the retina with which stimulation electrodes are to make contact,

each pixel element having

at least one image cell that converts incident light into electric signals, and

at least one amplifier whose input is connected to the image cell and whose output is connected to at least one stimulation electrode to which it supplies a stimulation signal,

and with an energy supply which converts externally coupled external energy into a supply voltage for the image cells and the amplifiers,

wherein the image cell has a logarithmic characteristic according to which incident light of specific intensity is converted into electric signals of specific amplitude,

wherein each pixel element has a logarithmic image cell for local image brightness, and each pixel element is assigned at least one logarithmic image cell for global brightness, and

wherein the amplifier is designed as a differential amplifier of which one input is connected to the image cell for local image brightness, and of which the other input is connected to the image cell for global brightness.

2. The retina implant of claim 1, wherein the stimulation signal is supplied in the form of analog voltage pulses of specific pulse length and pulse spacings, the pulse amplitude being a function of the intensity of the incident light.

3. The retina implant of claim 2, wherein the output of the amplifier is connected to a controllable discharge circuit.

4. The retina implant of claim 2, wherein pulse length and pulse spacing are determined via the externally coupled external energy.

5. The retina implant of claim 3, wherein the image cells are supplied with a first voltage that differs from a second voltage with which the amplifiers are supplied.

6. The retina implant of claim 5, wherein the second voltage is switched on in step with a pulse length and a pulse spacing.

7. The retina implant of claim 6, wherein a discharge circuit is connected to a third voltage that is derived from the second voltage.

8. The retina implant of claim 1, wherein the image cells are supplied with a first voltage that differs from a second voltage with which the amplifiers are supplied.

9. The retina implant of claim 8, wherein the second voltage is switched on in step with a pulse length and a pulse spacing.

10. The retina implant of claim 8, wherein a discharge circuit is connected to a third voltage that is derived from the second voltage.

11. An active retina implant with a number of pixel elements that convert incident light into electric stimulation signals for cells of the retina with which stimulation electrodes are to make contact,

each pixel element having

at least one image cell that converts incident light of specific intensity into electric signals, and

at least one amplifier whose input is connected to the image cell and whose output is connected to at least one stimulation electrode to which it supplies a stimulation signal,

and with an energy supply which converts externally coupled external energy into a supply voltage for the image cells and the amplifiers,

wherein the stimulation signal is supplied in the form of analog voltage pulses of specific pulse length and pulse spacings, the pulse amplitude being a function of the intensity of the incident light, and

wherein pulse length and pulse spacing are determined via the externally coupled external energy.

12. The retina implant of claim 11, wherein the output of the amplifier is connected to a controllable discharge circuit.

13. The retina implant of claim 12, wherein the image cells are supplied with a first voltage that differs from a second voltage with which the amplifiers are supplied.

14. The retina implant of claim 13, wherein the second voltage is switched on in step with a pulse length and a pulse spacing.

15. The retina implant of claim 14, wherein a discharge circuit is connected to a third voltage that is derived from the second voltage.

16. The retina implant of claim 11, wherein the image cells are supplied with a first voltage that differs from a second voltage with which the amplifiers are supplied.

17. The retina implant of claim 16, wherein the second voltage is switched on in step with a pulse length and a pulse spacing.

18. The retina implant of claim 16, wherein a discharge circuit is connected to a third voltage that is derived from the second voltage.

19. The retina implant of claim 18, wherein each pixel element has a logarithmic image cell for local image brightness, and each pixel element is assigned at least one logarithmic image cell for global brightness.

20. The retina implant of claim 19, wherein the amplifier is designed as a differential amplifier of which one input is connected to the image cell for local image brightness, and of which the other input is connected to the image cell for global brightness.

21. The retina implant of claim 11, wherein each pixel element has a logarithmic image cell for local image brightness, and each pixel element is assigned at least one logarithmic image cell for global brightness.

22. The retina implant of claim 21, wherein the amplifier is designed as a differential amplifier of which one input is connected to the image cell for local image brightness, and of which the other input is connected to the image cell for global brightness.