Extraocular device
First Claim
1. An extraocular device for use as a visual prosthesis, the device comprising:
- an array of electrodes embedded in a base member, the base member shaped for placement on an outer scleral surface of an eye of a subject, permitting intimate physical contact between the array of electrodes and the outer scleral surface of the eye of the subject;
a stimulator programmed to provide an electrical pulse to the array of electrodes and the outer scleral surface of the eye, to stimulate discrete local areas of retinal tissue in the eye and to generate discrete phosphenes in the eye of the subject, thus providing a neuroprosthetic effect and enabling the subject to perceive discrete spots of light; and
a conducting means for electrically connecting the array of electrodes to the stimulator;
wherein the electrical pulse does not travel to any electrode located on an internal side of the sclera of the subject.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device for use on the human eye is described. The device is placed in an extrocular location in a patient and delivers an electrical current that stimulates the retina of patients who are blind or have vision disorders. It has at least one electrode that makes contact with the scleral surface of the eye, the electrode typically being activated by an electrical stimulator. The device produces electrical pulses which pass through the electrodes on the scleral surface of the eye, to activate the retina of the eye, which causes the patient to experience improved vision, visual sensations or the prevention of deterioration of vision. By this means, sight can be restored or improved where patients have disorders of their retina or other parts of their visual system.
36 Citations
45 Claims
-
1. An extraocular device for use as a visual prosthesis, the device comprising:
-
an array of electrodes embedded in a base member, the base member shaped for placement on an outer scleral surface of an eye of a subject, permitting intimate physical contact between the array of electrodes and the outer scleral surface of the eye of the subject; a stimulator programmed to provide an electrical pulse to the array of electrodes and the outer scleral surface of the eye, to stimulate discrete local areas of retinal tissue in the eye and to generate discrete phosphenes in the eye of the subject, thus providing a neuroprosthetic effect and enabling the subject to perceive discrete spots of light; and a conducting means for electrically connecting the array of electrodes to the stimulator; wherein the electrical pulse does not travel to any electrode located on an internal side of the sclera of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. An extraocular device for use as a visual prosthesis, the device comprising:
-
an array of electrodes embedded in a base member, the base member shaped for placement on an outer scleral surface of an eye of a subject, permitting intimate physical contact between the array of electrodes and the outer scleral surface of the eye of the subject; and means for electrically stimulating the array of electrodes, thus providing an electrical pulse to the array of electrodes and the outer scleral surface of the eye of the subject, to stimulate discrete local areas of retinal tissue in the eye, thereby generating discrete phosphenes in the eye of the subject, thus providing a neuroprosthetic effect and enabling the subject to perceive discrete spots of light wherein the electrical pulse does not travel to any electrode located on an internal side of the sclera of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
-
-
37. A method of restoring or improving visual perception in a patient having a visual disorder, the method comprising
applying an extraocular electrical pulse to an array of electrodes and an outer scleral surface of an eye of the patient, thereby stimulating discrete local areas of retinal tissue in the eye of the patient and generating discrete phosphenes in the eye of the patient, enabling the patient to perceive discrete spots of light; -
wherein the array of electrodes is embedded in a base member, the base member shaped for placement on an outer scleral surface of the eye of the patient permitting intimate physical contact between the array of electrodes and the outer scleral surface of the eye of the patient; and wherein the electrical pulse does not travel to any electrode located on an internal side of the sclera of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
-
-
40. A method for generating phosphenes in a patient having a visual disorder, for a prosthetic effect, the method comprising
applying an extraocular electrical impulse to an array of electrodes and an outer scleral surface of an eye of the patient, thereby stimulating discrete local areas of retinal cells of the eye of the patient and generating discrete phosphenes in the eye of the patient, thus providing a neuroprosthetic effect and enabling the patient to perceive discrete spots of light; -
wherein the array of electrodes is embedded in a base member, the base member shaped for placement on the outer scleral surface of the eye of the patient permitting intimate physical contact between the array of electrodes and the outer scleral surface of the eye of the patient; and wherein the electrical impulse does not travel to any electrode located on an internal side of the sclera of the subject.
-
-
41. An extraocular neuroprosthesis, comprising:
-
a base member shaped for placement on an outer scleral surface of an eye of a subject, at a location corresponding to retinal tissue; an array of electrodes disposed within the base member; a conductor; and a stimulator, electrically connected to the array of electrodes via the conductor, which is programmed to provide an electric pulse through the conductor to the array of electrodes and, due to a location of the electrodes, to stimulate discrete local areas of retinal tissue, and to generate discrete phosphenes in the eye of the subject corresponding to one or more objects to be perceived by the subject.
-
-
42. A method of stimulating perception of discrete phosphenes by a subject, the method comprising:
-
providing an extraocular neuroprosthesis having an array of electrodes disposed in a base member; disposing the base member on an outer scleral surface of an eye of the subject such that electrodes of the array of electrodes contact the outer scleral surface; providing a constant current biphasic pulse to the array of electrodes, to stimulate discrete local areas of retinal tissue in the eye of the subject and produce phosphenes; Wherein the biphasic pulse does not travel to any electrode located on an internal side of the sclera of the subject.
-
-
43. A method of stimulating prosthetic vision in a subject, the method comprising:
-
providing an electric pulse to an array of electrodes disposed in a base member on an outer scleral surface of an eye of the subject and generating discrete phosphenes corresponding to one or more objects to be perceived by the subject; wherein the electrodes are disposed on a location on the outer scleral surface to enable stimulation of discrete local areas of retinal tissue, via the electric pulse, and wherein the electric pulse does not travel to any electrode located on an internal side of the sclera of the subject.
-
-
44. An extraocular device for use as a visual prosthesis, the device comprising:
-
an array of electrodes embedded in a base member, the array comprising at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode, the base member shaped for placement on an outer scleral surface of an eye of a subject, permitting intimate physical contact between the array of electrodes and the outer scleral surface of the eye of the subject; a stimulator which provides an electric pulse from the at least one first electrode disposed on the outer scleral surface to the at least one second electrode disposed on the outer scleral surface, to stimulate discrete local areas of retinal tissue in the eye and to generate discrete phosphenes in the eye of the subject, thus providing a neuroprosthetic effect and enabling the subject to perceive discrete spots of light; and a conducting means for electrically connecting the array of electrodes to the stimulator.
-
-
45. An extraocular device for use as a visual prosthesis, the device comprising:
-
an array of electrodes comprising at least one first electrode embedded in a base member, the base member shaped for placement on an outer scleral surface of an eye of a subject, permitting intimate physical contact between the array of electrodes and the outer scleral surface of the eye of the subject; at least one second electrode; a stimulator which provides an electrical pulse from the at least one first electrode disposed on the outer scleral surface to the at least one second electrode disposed on the outer scleral surface, to stimulate discrete local areas of retinal tissue in the eye and to generate discrete phosphenes in they eye of the subject, thus providing a neuroprosthetic effect and enabling the subject to perceive discrete spots of light; and conducting means for electrically connecting the array of electrodes to the stimulator.
-
Specification