Method and system for adaptive vision modification

• US 8,244,342 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Goodall, Eleanor V., Hillis, W. Daniel, Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Jung, Edward K. Y., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoekstra, Jeffrey G
• Application Number:
  US11/523,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20070010757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,157 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600/382, 600/383, 600/544, 600/545, 600/546, 600/558, 349/13, 351/168, 351/177, 351/211, 351/219, 351/200, 351/41, 359/665, 359/666
• US Class Current: 600/546
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof

Abstract

Methods and systems for modifying or enhancing vision are described. In exemplary embodiments, neural or neuromuscular activity is analyzed to determine a focus or other quality of a visual input, and the focus or quality information used as a basis for controlling an adjustable lens system or optical system.

Claims

1. A system for modifying the vision of a subject, comprising:

a) an adjustable lens system adapted for modifying a visual input to a subject;

b) a sensor for detecting a neuromuscular signal from said subject;

c) a signal processor including a pre-processor configured to receive as input said neuromuscular signal and to process said neuromuscular signal by performing preliminary signal processing to produce a pre-processed signal, and a signal analyzer configured to analyze said pre-processed signal to generate as output at least one quality parameter characterizing a quality of said visual input at a retina; and

d) a lens system controller configured to receive as input said at least one quality parameter and to generate as output a closed-loop control signal for updating an adjustment of said adjustable lens system at a specified update rate in response to said at least one quality parameter based upon a predetermined relationship between the value of said at least one quality parameter and a corresponding visual input.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is adapted for detecting a neuromuscular signal from the nervous system of said subject.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is adapted for detecting a neuromuscular signal from at least one motor nerve of said subject.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is adapted for detecting a neuromuscular signal from a muscle of a subject.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said neuromuscular signal is an electromyographic signal.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said neuromuscular signal is a measure of at least one of muscle force, muscle position, and muscle movement.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is adapted for detecting a neuromuscular signal from at least one extraocular muscle of said subject.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is adapted for detecting a neuromuscular signal from at least one ciliary muscle of an eye of said subject.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is adapted for detecting a neuromuscular signal from at least one iris of an eye of said subject.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is adapted for detecting a neuromuscular signal from at least one facial muscle of said subject.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined relationship between the value of said at least one quality parameter and the corresponding visual input is defined by stored quality parameter values and stored corresponding visual input values.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined relationship between the value of said at least one quality parameter and the corresponding visual input is defined by a mathematical model that defines said at least one quality parameter as a function of visual input.