Visual prosthesis

• US 8,239,034 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute, Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Greenberg, Robert J., Humayun, Mark S., McClure, Kelly H., McMahon, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIMBALL, JEREMIAH T
• Application Number:
  US11/875,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20080262571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 607/54
• US Class Current: 607/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

A method to provide visual current feedback of a retinal stimulation system. The method comprising: providing a retinal stimulation system configured to stimulate neural tissue in a subject'"'"'s eye, the retinal stimulation system comprising: an electronics package; and at least a first and a second electrode, each associated with the electronics package and configured to apply current to a subject'"'"'s retina; wherein current to be applied by the first electrode and the second electrode is configured to be higher for the first electrode when the first electrode has an impedance lower than a second electrode'"'"'s impedance; and providing a visual interface configured to show impedance of at least one of the electrodes.

Claims

1. A method for providing visual impedance feedback when implanting electrodes in a subject'"'"'s retina, the method comprising:

a) determining a maximum effective impedance;

b) temporarily placing an two dimensional array of electrodes in a subject'"'"'s retina;

c) determining impedance of the placed electrodes;

d) monitoring impedance of the electrodes, not exceeding the maximum effective impedance, using a visual interface, the visual interface including a two dimensional grid corresponding to the two dimensional array of electrodes displaying numerical impedance values for the electrodes, and providing for manual adjustment of current on each electrode;

e) moving the array of electrodes;

f) repeating features a) through d) until impedance of the electrodes is ideal for permanent implanting of the electrodes; and

g) permanently implanting the array of electrodes on the retina.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the array of electrodes is an array of 6×

10 electrodes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining impedance of the electrodes comprises:

applying current through the electrodes;

determining voltage drop across each of the electrodes; and

calculating impedance of each electrode based on the voltage drop across each electrode.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the current applied to the electrodes when determining the impedance of the electrodes is below a threshold current required to create perception of light by the subject.

5. A method to provide visual impedance feedback when determining which electrode is to be in contact with a subject'"'"'s retina, the method comprising:

determining an maximum effective impedance;

applying current to a two dimensional array of electrodes implanted in the subject'"'"'s eye;

determining impedance of each electrode of the two dimensional array of electrodes;

providing a visual user interface configured to show numerical impedance values of the electrodes in a two dimensional grid corresponding to the two dimensional array of electrodes;

establishing the electrode with the highest impedance, not exceeding the maximum effective impedance, as the electrode in contact with the subject'"'"'s retina and

providing for manual adjustment of electrode current through the visual user interface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the array of electrodes is an array of 6×

10 electrodes.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein determining impedance of each electrode comprises:

determining voltage drop across each of the electrodes; and

calculating impedance of each electrode based on the voltage drop across each electrode.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the current being applied to the electrodes is below a threshold current required to create perception of light by the subject.