Retinal prosthesis
First Claim
1. A retinal prosthesis comprising:
- an electronic stimulation unit, which is configured to be housed inside an eye, the electronic stimulation unit comprising;
a plurality of electrodes, configured to contact a portion of a retina of the eye;
an electronic control circuit electrically connected to said electrodes and configured to supply to the electrodes electrical stimulation signals designed to stimulate said portion of retina; and
a local antenna packaged in the electronic stimulation unit and connected to the electronic control circuit; and
an electromagnetic expansion, which is configured to be housed inside the eye, the electromagnetic expansion comprising;
a first expansion antenna; and
a second expansion antenna electrically coupled with the first expansion antenna, wherein the first expansion antenna is coupleable magnetically or electromagnetically to an external antenna, and the second expansion antenna is coupleable magnetically or electromagnetically to said local antenna, andwherein the electromagnetic expansion is further configured to receive an electromagnetic supply signal transmitted by said external antenna and generate a corresponding replica signal for reception in the local antenna.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A retinal prosthesis including an electronic stimulation unit housed inside an eye and including: a plurality of electrodes that contact a portion of a retina of the eye; an electronic control circuit, which is electrically connected to the electrodes and supplies to the electrodes electrical stimulation signals designed to stimulate the portion of retina; and a local antenna connected to the electronic control circuit. The retinal prosthesis further includes an electromagnetic expansion housed inside the eye and formed by a first expansion antenna and a second expansion antenna electrically connected together, the first expansion antenna being magnetically or electromagnetically coupled to an external antenna, the second expansion antenna being magnetically or electromagnetically couple to the local antenna, the electromagnetic expansion moreover receiving an electromagnetic supply signal transmitted by the external antenna and generating a corresponding replica signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A retinal prosthesis comprising:
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an electronic stimulation unit, which is configured to be housed inside an eye, the electronic stimulation unit comprising; a plurality of electrodes, configured to contact a portion of a retina of the eye; an electronic control circuit electrically connected to said electrodes and configured to supply to the electrodes electrical stimulation signals designed to stimulate said portion of retina; and a local antenna packaged in the electronic stimulation unit and connected to the electronic control circuit; and an electromagnetic expansion, which is configured to be housed inside the eye, the electromagnetic expansion comprising; a first expansion antenna; and a second expansion antenna electrically coupled with the first expansion antenna, wherein the first expansion antenna is coupleable magnetically or electromagnetically to an external antenna, and the second expansion antenna is coupleable magnetically or electromagnetically to said local antenna, and wherein the electromagnetic expansion is further configured to receive an electromagnetic supply signal transmitted by said external antenna and generate a corresponding replica signal for reception in the local antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A retinal prosthesis house-able inside an eye, the prosthesis comprising:
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an electronic stimulation unit packaged in a single assembly, the electronic stimulation unit comprising; a plurality of electrodes configured to stimulate the retina of the eye; an electronic control unit; and an integral antenna packaged inside the single assembly of the electronic stimulation unit; and an electromagnetic expansion comprising a first expansion antenna and a second expansion antenna configured to relay signals from an external antenna to the integral antenna of the electronic stimulation unit such that when the electronic stimulation unit requires replacement, the electromagnetic expansion stays in the eye. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification