Retinal prosthesis with an external power source

• US 9,907,969 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2017
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• 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): CAREY, MICHAEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US15/412,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20170224998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 607 53, 607 54, 607 61, 607 62
• 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

An external device is provided for use with an intraocular device configured to be implanted entirely in an eye of a subject. The external device includes a mount configured to be placed in front of the eye and a sensor coupled to the mount and configured to sense a level of ambient light. The external device additionally includes an external power source coupled to the mount and configured to (i) emit toward the eye non-visible light that is outside of 380-750 nm, and (ii) modulate the non-visible light based on the level of ambient light sensed by the sensor. Other application are also described.

Claims

1. An external device for use with an intraocular device configured to be implanted entirely in an eye of a subject, the external device comprising:

a mount configured to be placed in front of the eye;

a sensor coupled to the mount and configured to sense a level of ambient light; and

an external power source coupled to the mount and configured to (i) emit toward the eye non-visible light that is outside of 380-750 nm, (ii) modulate the non-visible light based on the level of ambient light sensed by the sensor, and (iii) not include image information in the emitted light.

2. The external device according to claim 1, wherein the external power source is configured to control the intraocular device by modulating the emitted light with a coded signal.

3. The external device according to claim 2, wherein the power source is configured to modulate the light with the coded signal using amplitude modulation of the light emitted by the power source.

4. The external device according to claim 3, wherein the power source is configured to modulate the light to vary between a minimum amplitude and a maximum amplitude, and wherein the minimum amplitude is at least 20% of the maximum amplitude.

5. The external device according to claim 4, wherein the power source is configured to set the minimum amplitude to be at least 50% of the maximum amplitude.

6. The external device according to claim 3, wherein the power source is configured to set a carrier frequency of the modulated light to be between 10 kHz and 100 kHz.

7. The external device according to claim 3, wherein the power source is configured to set a pulse width of pulses of the light to be 1-10 microseconds.

8. The external device according to claim 3, wherein the power source is configured to modulate the light emitted from the power source between a minimum amplitude and a maximum amplitude, the minimum amplitude being at least 20% of a summed amplitude of (a) the light emitted from the power source and (b) the ambient light.

9. The external device according to claim 8, wherein the power source is configured to modulate the light emitted from the power source to be at least 50% of the summed amplitude of the light emitted from the power source and the ambient light.

10. The external device according to claim 3, wherein the power source is configured to control a pulse frequency of electrical current applied to the retina by the intraocular device, by modulating the emitted light with the coded signal.

11. The external device according to claim 1, wherein the mount comprises a pair of eyeglasses.

12. An external device for use with an intraocular device configured to be implanted entirely in an eye of a subject, the external device comprising:

a mount configured to be placed in front of the eye;

a sensor coupled to the mount and configured to sense a level of ambient light; and

an external power source coupled to the mount and configured to (i) emit toward the eye non-visible light that is outside of 380-750 nm, (ii) modulate the non-visible light based on the level of ambient light sensed by the sensor, and (iii) control the intraocular device by modulating the emitted light with a coded signal using amplitude modulation of the light emitted by the power source, and modulating the light to vary between a minimum amplitude and a maximum amplitude, the minimum amplitude being at least 20% of the maximum amplitude.

13. The external device according to claim 12, wherein the power source is configured to set the minimum amplitude to be at least 50% of the maximum amplitude.

14. An external device for use with an intraocular device configured to be implanted entirely in an eye of a subject, the external device comprising:

a mount configured to be placed in front of the eye;

a sensor coupled to the mount and configured to sense a level of ambient light; and

an external power source coupled to the mount and configured to (i) emit toward the eye non-visible light that is outside of 380-750 nm, (ii) modulate the non-visible light based on the level of ambient light sensed by the sensor, and (iii) control the intraocular device by modulating the emitted light with a coded signal using amplitude modulation of the light emitted by the power source, and modulating the light emitted from the power source between a minimum amplitude and a maximum amplitude, the minimum amplitude being at least 20% of a summed amplitude of (a) the light emitted from the power source and (b) the ambient light.

15. The external device according to claim 14, wherein the power source is configured to modulate the light emitted from the power source to be at least 50% of the summed amplitude of the light emitted from the power source and the ambient light.