Intraocular implants

• US 7,776,087 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VisionCare, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi, Aharoni, Eli
• Primary Examiner(s): PREBILIC, PAUL B
• Application Number:
  US11/069,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20050209691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,995 Days
• Field of Search: 623/4.1, 623/6.11, 623/6.34, 623/6.63, 607/54
• US Class Current: 623/6.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1648 Multipart lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1651 Multipart lenses comprising a telescope
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0053 differing in optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0069 Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/08 Devices or methods enabling eye-patients to replace direct visual perception by another kind of perception
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye

Abstract

An intraocular implant including a sealed capsule adapted for intraocular placement upstream of a retina, an electronic display located within the sealed capsule, electronic circuitry located within the sealed capsule for operating the electronic display, the electronic circuitry and the electronic display operative to selectably provide multiple display options, the multiple display options including allowing at least some light from the outside to pass through the electronic display and focusing optics located within the sealed capsule.

Claims

1. An intraocular implant cooperating with at least one imaging device operative to view a scene, the intraocular implant comprising:

a sealed capsule adapted for intraocular placement upstream of a retina, said sealed capsule including;

electronic circuitry sized and configured for intraocular placement;

a receiver operative to receive signals representing said scene viewed by said at least one imaging device;

a transmitter operative to cooperate with said receiver and to transmit said signals to said electronic circuitry;

an electronic display sized and configured for intraocular placement, and having at least first and second operational display options, said electronic display being operative in said first operational display option, responsive to inputs received from said electronic circuitry, to display an image corresponding to said image of said scene viewed by said imaging device, said electronic display being transparent in said second operational display option to allow at least some light from the outside to pass through said electronic display and to directly reach the retina;

a selection mechanism associated with said electronic circuitry and operative to select between said first operational display option and said second operational display option; and

focusing optics arranged for focusing an image appearing on said electronic display onto the retina.

2. An intraocular implant according to claim 1 wherein said focusing optics are arranged for focusing said light from the outside onto the retina.

3. An intraocular implant according to claim 1 and wherein said electronic display is operative, in said second operational display option, to allow light from the outside to pass through the entire area of said display.

4. An intraocular implant according to claim 1 and wherein said electronic display is operative, in said second operational display option, to allow light from the outside to pass through said display only at certain locations.

5. An intraocular implant according to claim 1 and wherein said focusing optics comprise a single lens.

6. An intraocular implant according to claim 1 and wherein said focusing optics comprise multiple lenses.

7. An intraocular implant according to claim 1, and wherein said selection mechanism is operative to select between said first and second operational display options in response to a user input.

8. An intraocular implant according to claim 1, and wherein said at least one imaging device comprises an internal imaging device sized and configured for intraocular placement, which is disposed within said sealed capsule and wherein said receiver is operative to receive said signals representing said scene and to transmit said signals to said electronic circuitry within said sealed capsule.

9. An intraocular implant according to claim 1, and wherein said at least one imaging device comprises an external imaging device which is external to said sealed capsule, the external imaging device cooperating with an external transmitter which is operative to transmit said signals representing said scene to said receiver which is included in said sealed capsule.

10. An intraocular implant according to claim 1 and wherein said electronic circuitry comprises an energy storage facility for storing electrical energy for operating said electronic display.

11. An intraocular implant according to claim 10 and wherein said energy storage facility is selected from a group consisting of a rechargeable miniature battery and a capacitor.

12. An intraocular implant according to claim 1 and wherein said electronic circuitry comprises a wireless energy receiver for wirelessly receiving electrical energy for operating said electronic display.

13. An intraocular implant according to claim 12 and wherein said wireless energy receiver comprises a resonant circuit.

14. An intraocular implant according to claim 12 and wherein said wireless energy receiver is operative to receive said electrical energy for operating said electronic display from a power source which is external to said sealed capsule.

15. An intraocular implant according to claim 14 and wherein said power source which is external to said sealed capsule is selected from a group consisting of an ultrasonic power source, an electromagnetic power source and a photovoltaic power source.

16. An intraocular implant according to claim 1 and wherein said sealed capsule also comprises a power source for operating said electronic circuitry and said electronic display.

17. An intraocular implant according to claim 16 and wherein said power source is selected from a group consisting of an ultrasonic power source, an electromagnetic power source and a photovoltaic power source.

18. An intraocular implant according to claim 1 and wherein said electronic circuitry is embodied on a circuit board which is arranged to lie in a cylindrical configuration peripherally of an optical path between said electronic display and said focusing optics.

19. An intraocular implant according to claim 3 and wherein said focusing optics comprise a single lens.

20. An intraocular implant according to claim 3 and wherein said focusing optics comprise multiple lenses.

21. An intraocular implant according to claim 4 and wherein said focusing optics comprise a single lens.

22. An intraocular implant according to claim 4 and wherein said focusing optics comprise multiple lenses.