Visual color prosthesis

• US 7,840,274 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2007
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. (Vivani Medical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. (Vivani Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Greenberg, Robert J., Schulman, Joseph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gedeon; Brian T
• Application Number:
  US11/926,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20080294224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,122 Days
• Field of Search: 607/53, 607/54
• US Class Current: 607/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0543 Retinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49165 by forming conductive walled aperture in base

Abstract

A visual prosthesis for restoring color vision to patients with lost or impaired visual function. The prosthesis creates the perception of a color image by electrically stimulating visual neurons in patterns consistent with the electrically patterns naturally produced by the retina in response to a color image.

Claims

1. A visual color prosthesis comprising:

a color video receiver for receiving a color video image and converting said color video image to an electrical signal, which contains image color signal data; and

a video processing unit, coupled to said color video receiver and processing said electrical signal;

a plurality of electrodes driven in accordance with data from said video processing unit and stimulating visual neurons in temporal patterns to create a perception of a color image.

2. The visual color prosthesis according to claim 1, further comprising:

an external communication unit, coupled to said video processing unit and transmitting said electrical signal; and

an internal communication unit implanted within a living body receiving said electrical signal, and driving said plurality of electrodes.

3. The visual color prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of electrodes is disposed on a retina.

4. The visual color prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said video processing unit converts said electrical signal by converting a signal portion associated with a color to a signal of predetermined frequency and pulse width, which, when used to stimulate visual neurons, creates a perception of said color.

5. The visual color prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said video processing unit converts said electrical signal by directing a signal associated with a color to electrodes associated with visual neurons receptive to said color.

6. The visual color prosthesis according to claim 5, wherein said video processing unit converts said electrical signal by converting signal portions associated with given colors for signaling color to different retinal cells, in a planar pattern, corresponding to locations of electrodes in the vicinity of individual retinal cells, including red-center-green surround, green-center-red-surround, blue-center-yellow surround and yellow-center-blue-surround bipolar cells.

7. A method for restoring color vision in a patient with impaired vision comprising the steps of:

receiving a color video image with an external color imaging device;

converting said color video image to a an electrical signal, which contains image color signal data suitable for visual stimulation;

transmitting said color video signal into the patient; and

stimulating visual neurons in temporal patterns in accordance with said color video signal.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said step of converting said color video image includes converting predetermined colors to predetermined time sequences and pulse widths for signaling color to visual neurons.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said step of converting said color video image includes converting a predetermined color to'"'"' a signal to electrodes associated with cells receptive to said predetermined color.