Wearable apparatus for delivery of power to a retinal prosthesis

• US 9,474,902 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2013
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nano-Retina Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nano-Retina Inc.
• Inventors: Kamintz, Kobi, Eisenberg, Shai, Gefen, Ra'anan, Yanovitz, Leonid
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHAND, JENNIFER LEIGH-STEWAR
• Application Number:
  US14/145,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20150182748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0114 comprising dichroic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0016 Grooves, prisms, gratings, scattering particles or rough surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/26 Optical coupling means G02B6/36, G02B6/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/34 utilising prism or grating G02B6/293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4287 Optical modules with tapping or launching means through the surface of the waveguide G02B6/2852, G02B6/4286 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4295 coupling with semiconductor devices activated by light through the light guide, e.g. thyristors, phototransistors
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/086 Auxiliary lenses located directly on a main spectacle lens or in the immediate vicinity of main spectacles

Abstract

Apparatus is provided including an extraocular device, which includes an eyeglasses frame, which is placed in front of an eye of a subject, and a power source coupled to the eyeglasses frame and configured to emit a beam of light that is outside of 380-750 nm. A light-guiding element is coupled to the eyeglasses frame and at least one optical coupling-in element and at least one optical coupling-out element are optically coupled to the light-guiding element. The coupling-in element is positioned such that the beam of light is directed into the light-guiding element via the coupling-in element, and the coupling-in and coupling-out elements are positioned such that the beam diverges from a focal point located within 3 mm of the coupling-out element. Other applications are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising an extraocular device comprising:

an eyeglasses frame, configured to be placed in front of an eye of a subject;

a power source coupled to the eyeglasses frame and configured to emit a beam of light that is outside of 380-750 nm;

a light-guiding element coupled to the eyeglasses frame; and

at least one optical coupling-in element and at least one optical coupling-out element that are optically coupled to the light-guiding element,

the coupling-in element being positioned such that the beam of light is directed into the light-guiding element via the coupling-in element, and

the coupling-in and coupling-out elements being positioned such that the beam diverges from a focal point that is located in an optical path between the coupling-in and coupling-out elements, and at a distance that is within 3 mm of the coupling-out element.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a laser.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coupling-in and coupling-out elements are positioned so as to create a defocused spot of light on a retina of the subject.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the light-guiding element is shaped to form the optical coupling-in element.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the light-guiding element is shaped to form the optical coupling-out element.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coupling-in and coupling-out elements are positioned such that the beam diverges at a divergence angle of 5-30 degrees.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extraocular device does not comprise a camera.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extraocular device is not configured to project an image composed of pixels.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extraocular device is configured to allow ambient light to enter the eye.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light-guiding element comprises a prism.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical coupling-in element is selected from the group consisting of:

a lens, a mirror, a grating, and a prism.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coupling-out element comprises a dichroic mirror.