Retinal prosthesis with visible-light filter

• US 9,566,191 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2015
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nano-Retina Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nano-Retina Inc.
• Inventors: Gefen, Ra'anan, Gross, Yossi, Liran, Tuvia, Vaingast, Shai
• Primary Examiner(s): Moran, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAREY, MICHAEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US14/936,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20160135988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 607/54, 607/139, 607/141
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/148 Implantation instruments specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1624 having adjustable focus; power activated variable focus means, e.g. mechanically or electrically by the ciliary muscle or from the outside
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1659 having variable absorption coefficient for electromagnetic radiation, e.g. photochromic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand caps with means for protecting the eyes A42B1/018; visors for helmets A42B3/22; retractors A61B17/02; manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; appliances to aid invalids to move about A61H3/00; exercisers for the eyes A61H5/00; eye baths A61H35/02; sunglasses or goggles having the same features as spectacles G02C
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0543 Retinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

Apparatus is provided, including an external device, including a mount, placed in front of an eye, and a laser which emits toward the eye radiation that is outside of 380-750 nm. The apparatus additionally includes an intraocular device which is implanted entirely in the eye, and includes an energy receiver, a plurality of stimulating electrodes, a plurality of photosensors, and driving circuitry coupled to the energy receiver and to the photosensors, and configured to drive the electrodes to apply currents to a retina of the eye in response to the signals from the photosensors. The photosensors are (a) generally insensitive to the energy from the laser, and (b) generally sensitive to visible light. Other applications are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

an external device, comprising;

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

a laser coupled to the mount and configured to emit toward the eye radiation that is outside of 380-750 nm; and

an intraocular device configured to be implanted entirely in the subject'"'"'s eye, the intraocular device comprising;

an energy receiver, configured to receive the radiation from the laser and to generate a voltage drop in response thereto;

a plurality of stimulating electrodes;

a plurality of photosensors, each photosensor configured to detect photons and to generate a signal in response thereto; and

driving circuitry, coupled to the energy receiver and to the photosensors, and configured to receive the signals from the photosensors and to utilize the voltage drop to drive the electrodes to apply currents to a retina of the eye in response to the signals from the photosensors,

wherein a sensitivity of the photosensors to visible light is higher than a sensitivity of the photosensors to the radiation from the laser, due to the photosensors being (a) generally insensitive to the radiation from the laser, and (b) generally sensitive to visible light; and

wherein the intraocular device comprises a filter configured to allow to all of the photosensors of the apparatus transmission of visible light only.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energy receiver is configured to receive visible and non-visible light, and to generate the voltage drop in response thereto.