Eye-tracking visual prosthetic and method
First Claim
1. A wearable system to aid in treating a vision problem of a first eye of a person, wherein the first eye has a retina having at least one functional nerve layer, and wherein at least part of the system is immediately in front of the first eye of the person, the system comprising:
- at least one imager that obtains a temporal sequence of images of a scene and converts the sequence of images into digital-image signals, the at least one imager having a field of view facing away from the person;
an eye-position detector that detects a direction of gaze of the first eye;
a field-of-view controller configured to direct the field of view of the at least one imager in response to the direction of gaze of the first eye detected by the eye-position detector;
an image-processing unit that is operatively coupled to the at least one imager, wherein the image-processing unit processes the digital-image signals and generates a series of optical-source-driving signals based on the digital-image signals;
an optical source configured to receive the optical-source-driving signals and to generate and emit optical signals, wherein the optical signals have a wavelength between 1800 nm and 1900 nm and a pulse width between 1 microsecond and 8 milliseconds;
an ocular implant configured to be implanted at least in part within the first eye of the person, wherein the ocular implant has a light-receiving anterior end closest to the first eye'"'"'s anterior surface, and extends to a posterior end that is closer to the first eye'"'"'s fovea than to the first eye'"'"'s anterior surface; and
an image-position moving unit configured to direct the optical signals into the ocular implant, such that directions of the optical signals follow changes in the direction of gaze of the first eye, wherein the ocular implant is configured to transmit the optical signals through an inner portion of the first eye and onto an at least one functional nerve layer of the first eye'"'"'s retina, and wherein the optical signals produce nerve action potentials in order to produce a vision sensation to the person.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved prosthesis and method for stimulating vision nerves to obtain a vision sensation that is useful for the patient that has lost vision due to AMD, RP, and other diseases. The invention utilizes infrared light to cause action potentials in the retinal nerves similar to those which result from rods and cones stimulated by visible light in healthy retinas. In some embodiments, the invention provides a prosthesis that generates a stimulation pattern of infrared light from an external stimulator array through the eye and focusing the stimulation pattern of infrared light on the retina, especially the fovea. Some embodiments the invention provides improved resolution down to a group of nerves, or even the individual nerve level, with sufficient energy density so as to cause a desired action potential.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A wearable system to aid in treating a vision problem of a first eye of a person, wherein the first eye has a retina having at least one functional nerve layer, and wherein at least part of the system is immediately in front of the first eye of the person, the system comprising:
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at least one imager that obtains a temporal sequence of images of a scene and converts the sequence of images into digital-image signals, the at least one imager having a field of view facing away from the person; an eye-position detector that detects a direction of gaze of the first eye; a field-of-view controller configured to direct the field of view of the at least one imager in response to the direction of gaze of the first eye detected by the eye-position detector; an image-processing unit that is operatively coupled to the at least one imager, wherein the image-processing unit processes the digital-image signals and generates a series of optical-source-driving signals based on the digital-image signals; an optical source configured to receive the optical-source-driving signals and to generate and emit optical signals, wherein the optical signals have a wavelength between 1800 nm and 1900 nm and a pulse width between 1 microsecond and 8 milliseconds; an ocular implant configured to be implanted at least in part within the first eye of the person, wherein the ocular implant has a light-receiving anterior end closest to the first eye'"'"'s anterior surface, and extends to a posterior end that is closer to the first eye'"'"'s fovea than to the first eye'"'"'s anterior surface; and an image-position moving unit configured to direct the optical signals into the ocular implant, such that directions of the optical signals follow changes in the direction of gaze of the first eye, wherein the ocular implant is configured to transmit the optical signals through an inner portion of the first eye and onto an at least one functional nerve layer of the first eye'"'"'s retina, and wherein the optical signals produce nerve action potentials in order to produce a vision sensation to the person. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus to aid in treating a vision problem of a first eye of a person, wherein the first eye has an optical path extending along an anteroposterior axis extending from the first eye'"'"'s anterior surface to the first eye'"'"'s fovea and retina, the apparatus comprising:
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means for imaging a temporal sequence of images of a scene and for converting the sequence of images into digital-image signals, the means for imaging having a field of view facing away from the person; means for generating a series of optical-source-driving signals based on the digital-image signals; means for detecting a direction of gaze of the first eye and generating a first gaze-direction indication; means for directing a field of view of the means for imaging in response to the first gaze-direction indication; means for receiving the optical-source-driving signals and for generating and emitting optical signals to form an image, wherein the means for generating and emitting optical signals include an optical source configured to emit the optical signals at a wavelength between 1800 nm and 1900 nm and with a pulse width between 1 microsecond and 8 milliseconds; an ocular implant configured to be implanted at least in part within the first eye of the person, wherein the ocular implant has a light-receiving anterior end closest to the first eye'"'"'s anterior surface, and extends to a posterior end, wherein the posterior end is closer to the first eye'"'"'s fovea than to the first eye'"'"'s anterior surface; and means for moving the image and directing the optical signals into the ocular implant in a direction based on the first gaze-direction indication, wherein the ocular implant is configured to transmit the optical signals through an inner portion of the first eye and onto an at least one functional nerve layer of the retina, and wherein the optical signals nerve action potentials in order to produce a vision sensation to the person. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification