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( 1 2 ) United S t a t e s
Patent
Greenberg t a ] .
US008000000B2
US 8 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 B2
* A u g .
1 6 , 2 0 1 1
1 0 ) Patent N 0 . :
4 5 ) Date o f P a t e n t :
5 4 )
7 5 )
7 3 )
( * )
2 1 )
2 2 )
6 5 )
6 0 )
5 1 )
5 2 )
5 8 )
5 6 )
VISUAL
PROSTHESIS
I n v e n t o r s :
Robert
.
G r e e n b e r g ,
L o s
A n g e l e s , CA
( U S ) ;
K e l l y
H .
M c C l u r e ,
S i m i
V a l l e y ,
CA
U S ) ;
Arup R o y , V a l e n c i a , CA
U S )
A s s i g n e e :
S e c o n d
S i g h t M e d i c a l P r o d u c t s , I n c . ,
S y l m a r , CA U S )
N o t i c e :
S u b j e c t
t o a n y d i s c l a i m er , t h e t e r m
o f
h i s
p a t e n t
i s e x t e n d e d o r a d j u s t e d u n d e r 3 5
USC
5 4 ( b )
b y
2 0 6
d a y s .
T h i s
p a t e n t
i s
s u b j e c t
t o a
t e r m i n a l
d i s
c l a i m e r .
A p p l .
N 0 . : 1 1 / 8 7 4 , 6 9 0
F i l e d : O c t . 1 8 , 2007
Prior P u b l i c a t i o n Data
US 008/0262568
A1
O c t .
2 3 ,
2008
R e l a t e d US. p p l i c a t i o n
Data
P r o v i s i o n a l a p p l i c a t i o n
No. 6 0 / 8 5 2 , 8 7 5 , ? l e d
on O c t .
1 9 , 2 0 0 6 .
I n t .
C l .
A61N / 3 7 2 ( 2 0 0 6 . 0 1 )
US.
l.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 7/60; 607/53
Field of
Classi?cation
Search
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 623/663;
6 0 7 / 5 , 1 7 ,
5 3 4 5 7 ,
6 2 , 6 0
S e e
a p p l i c a t i o n ? l e
f o r c o m p l e t e
s e a r c h h i s t o r y .
References Cited
U . S . PATENT DOCUMENTS
4 , 8 3 7 , 0 4 9 A
6 / 1 9 8 9 B y e r s
e t a l .
5 , 1 0 9 , 8 4 4 A
5 / 1 9 9 2 d e
J u a n ,
J r .
e t a l .
5 , 2 1 5 , 0 8 8
A 6 / 1 9 9 3 No rmann t a l .
5,569,307 A
*
10/1996 Schulman t a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 0 7 / 5 6
5 , 9 3 5 , 1 5 5 A 8 / 1 9 9 9 Humayun
t a l .
6 , 4 0 0 , 9 8 9 B1 6 / 2 0 0 2 E c k m i l l e r
6,458,157
B1* 10/2002
Suaning
. . 623/663
7 , 8 1 8 , 0 6 1 B1* 1 0 / 2 0 1 0
P a l m e r
6 0 7 / 3 2
2 0 0 5 / 0 0 7 8 8 4 6
A1*
4 / 2 0 0 5
Single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
381 /32 6
2006/0247754 A1
1 1 / 2 0 0 6
G r e e n b e r g e t a l .
FOREIGN
PATENTDOCUMENTS
W0 WO
2/40095
A1 5 / 2 0 0 2
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
E u g e n e De
u a n ,
R e t i n a l
T a c k s ,
A m e r i c a n
J o u r n a l o f
O p h t h a l m o l o g y
9 9 : p p . 2 7 2 - 2 7 4 , M a r .
1 9 8 5 .
*
c i t e d b y
examiner
Primary Examiner a r l
H
Layno
Assistant E x a m ine r
*
uther Behringer
( 7 4 ) A t t o r n e y ,
A g e n t , o r
FirmiScott B . D u n b a r ;
A l e s s a n d r o
S t e i n ?
5 7 )
ABSTRACT
A i s u a l p r o s t h e s i s
a p p a r a t u s
a n d a
method
o r l i m i t i n g
poWer
c o n s u m p t i o n i n
a
v i s u a l
p r o s t h e s i s a p p a r a t u s . The
v i s u a l
p r o s t h e s i s a p p a r a t u s
c o m p r i s e s a
camera f o r c a p t u r i n g
a
v i d e o i m a g e , a v i d e o
p r o c e s s i n g
u n i t a s s o c i a t e d W i t h t h e
c a m e r a ,
t h e
v i d e o p r o c e s s i n g
u n i t
c o n ? g u r e d t o c o n v e r t
t h e
v i d e o image t o s t i m u l a t i o n p a t t e r n s ,
and
a
r e t i n a l
s t i m u l a t i o n
s y s t e m c o n ? g u r e d
t o
s t o p s t i m u l a t i n g n e u r a l t i s s u e i n a s u b
j e c t ’ s
e y e
based o n
t h e s t i m u l a t i o n
p a t t e r n s
When
an
e r r o r
i s
d e t e c t e d
i n a f o r w a r d
t e l e m e tr y r e c e i v e d
from t h e v i d e o p r o
c e s s i n g u n i t .
4 , 5 7 3 , 4 8 1
A
3 / 1 9 8 6 B u l l a r a
4 , 6 1 2 ,93 4
A *
9/1986 Borkan
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 0 7 / 6 2
4 , 6 2 8 , 9 3 3
A 1 2 / 1 9 8 6
M i c h e l s o n
1 2 C l a i m s , 1 6 Drawing S h e e t s
900
\
s 0 1
D I D R E T I N A L
S T I M U L A T I O N S Y S T E M
T R A N S M I T B A C K
T E L E M Q E T R ’ Y
902
/
P R O V I D E
P O W E R
A N D
D A T A T O T H E R E T I N A L
S T I M U L A T I O N
S Y S T E M
T U R N
OF
O W E R TO
T H E R E T I N A L
S T I M U L A T I O N S Y S T E M
l
9 0 1
/
T U R N O N
POWER TO
T H E
R E T I N A L
S T I M U L A T I O N
S Y S T E M F O R
A
P R E D E T E R M I N E D
A M O U N T O F T I M E
905
T U R N
OF O W E R TO D I D R E T I N A L
T H E R E T I N A L
S T I M U L A T I O N S Y S T E M T R A N S M I T B A C K
F O R A N O T H E R T E L E M E T R ’ V
D U R I N G
T H E
P R E D E I E R M I N E D F R E D E T E R M I N E D
A M O U N T
OF
T I M E
A M O U N T OF
T I M E
?
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M O D E T o COMMANDS
9 5 0
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cw
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I M P L A N T R E S P O N D I N G
T o
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W A I T F O R
C O M M A N D S
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1
VISUAL
PROSTHESIS
CROSS REFERENCE
TO
RELATED
APPLICATIONS
T h i s a p p l i c a t i o n c l a i m s t h e
b e n e ? t o f US.
p r o v i s i o n a l
P a t e n t
A p p l i c a t i o n
S e r .
N o .
6 0 / 8 5 2 , 8 7 5 ,
? l e d
O c t .
1 9 ,
2 0 0 6
f o r “ D a t a
T e l e m e t r y
S e c u r i t y f o r a n I m p l a n t a b l e D e v i c e ” b y
R o b e r t
J . G r e e n b e r g , K e l l y H .
M c C l u r e
a n d A r u p R o y , t h e
d i s c l o s u r e
o f
W h i c h i s i n c o r p o r a t e d h e r e i n
b y
r e f e r e n c e .
FEDERALLY
SPONSORED
RESEARCH OR
DEVELOPMENT
The p r e s e n t
i n v e n t i o n
Was made
W i t h
s u p p o r t from t h e
United
S t a t e s Government
under G r a n t
number
R24EY12893-01, a W a r d e d
b y
t h e N a t i o n a l
I n s t i t u t e s o f
H e a l t h . The
U n i t e d
S t a t e s Government
h a s
c e r t a i n r i g h t s i n
t h e
i n v e n t i o n .
FIELD
The p r e s e n t
d i s c l o s u r e
r e l a t e s t o v i s u a l p r o s t h e s e s c o n ? g
u r e d t o p r o v i d e n e u r a l s t i m u l a t i o n f o r
t h e c r e a t i o n
o f r t i ? c i a l
v i s i o n .
BACKGROUND
I n 1 7 5 5
LeRoy
p a s s e d t h e d i s c h a r g e o f a
L e y d e n
j a r
through t h e o r b i t
of
man Who Was b l i n d from
c a t a r a c t
and
t h e p a t i e n t s a W “ ? a m e s p a s s i n g r a p i d l y
d o w n w a r d s . ” E v e r
s i n c e ,
t h e r e
h a s been
a f a s c i n a t i o n
W i t h e l e c t r i c a l l y e l i c i t e d
v i s u a l p e r c e p t i o n . The
g e n e r a l
c o n c e p t o f l e c t r i c a l
s t i m u l a
t i o n
o f e t i n a l
c e l l s
t o
p r o d u c e t h e s e
? a s h e s
o f
i g h t
o r p h o s
p h e n e s
h a s been knoWn f o r
q u i t e some t i m e . Based on t h e s e
g e n e r a l
p r i n c i p l e s , some
a r l y
a t t e m p t s
a t
d e v i s i n g a p r o s t h e
s i s
f o r
a i d i n g
t h e
v i s u a l l y
i m p a i r e d
h a v e
i n c l u d e d
a t t a c h i n g
e l e c t r o d e s
t o
t h e
head
o r
e y e l i d s of a t i e n t s . While
some
of
t h e s e
e a r l y
a t t e m p t s
met
W i t h some l i m i t e d
s u c c e s s ,
t h e s e
e a r l y p r o s t h e t i c
d e v i c e s
W e r e
l a r g e ,
b u l k y a n d
c o u l d
n o t p r o
d u c e
a d e q u a t e s i m u l a t e d
v i s i o n
t o
t r u l y a i d t h e v i s u a l l y
i m p a i r e d .
I n t h e e a r l y
1 9 3 0 ’
, F o e r s t e r i n v e s t i g a te d t h e
e f f e c t
o f
e l e c
t r i c a l l y
s t i m u l a t i n g t h e e x p o s e d o c c i p i t a l p o l e
o f
o n e c e r e b r a l
h e m i s p h e r e . He
f o u n d t h a t , When a p o i n t a t t h e
e x t r e m e
o c c i p i t a l p o l e
W a s s t i m u l a t e d , t h e p a t i e n t p e r c e i v e d a s m a l l
s p o t
o f
i g h t
d i r e c t l y i n f r o n t
a n d m o t i o n l e s s
a p h o s p h e n e ) .
S u b s e q u e n t l y , B r i n d l e y a n d L e W i n ( 1 9 6 8 ) t h o r o u g h l y
s t u d i e d
e l e c t r i c a l
s t i m u l a t i o n o f t h e
human c c i p i t a l
v i s u a l )
c o r t e x .
By
v a r y i n g
t h e
s t i m u l a t i o n
p a r a m e t e r s ,
t h e s e i n v e s t i g a t o r s
d e s c r i b e d i n d e t a i l t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e p h o s p h e n e s p r o d u c e d
r e l a t i v e t o t h e s p e c i ? c r e g i o n o f t h e
o c c i p i t a l
c o r t e x s t i m u
l a t e d .
T h e s e
e x p e r i m e n t s d e m o n s t r a t e d : 1 ) t h e
c o n s i s t e n t
s h a p e a n d p o s i t i o n o f p h o s p h e n e s ; 2 ) t h a t
i n c r e a s e d
s t i m u
l a t i o n
p u l s e d u r a t i o n made
p h o s p h e n e s b r i g h t e r ; a n d
3 )
t h a t
t h e r e
Was
no
d e t e c t a b l e
i n t e r a c t i o n betWeen n e i g h b o r i n g
electrodes Which
W e r e
a s
close a s
2 . 4
mm p a r t .
As i n t r a o c u l a r s u r g i c a l t e c h n i q u e s
h a v e
a d v a n c e d ,
i t
h a s
become
p o s s i b l e
t o a p p l y
s t i m u l a t i o n on
s m a l l g r o u p s and
even o n i n d i v i d u a l r e t i n a l c e l l s t o g e n e r a t e
f o c u s e d
phos
p h e n e s
t h r o u g h d e v i c e s i m p l a n t e d
W i t h i n t h e
e y e i t s e l f .
T h i s
h a s
s p a r k e d r e n e W e d i n t e r e s t i n d e v e l o p i n g m e t h o d s a n d
a p p a r a t u s e s t o a i d
t h e v i s u a l l y
i m p a i r e d . S p e c i ? c a l l y ,
g r e a t
e f f o r t
h a s been expended i n t h e a r e a o f i n t r a o c u l ar v i s u a l
p r o s t h e s i s d e v i c e s
i n
an
e f f o r t
t o
r e s t o r e v i s i o n i n c a s e s Where
b l i n d n e s s
i s c a u s e d b y
p h o t o r e c e p t o r d e g e n e r a t i v e r e t i n a l
20
25
30
35
4 0
4 5
50
55
60
6 5
2
d i s e a s e s
s u c h a s
r e t i n i t i s pigmentosa
and a g e r e l a t e d macular
d e g e n e r a t i o n W h i c h a f f e c t m i l l i o n s
o f p e o p l e W o r l d W i d e .
N e u r a l
t i s s u e c a n
b e
a r t i ? c i a l l y
s t i m u l a t e d a n d
a c t i v a t e d
by
p r o s t h e t i c
d e v i c e s t h a t
p a s s
p u l s e s
o f
e l e c t r i c a l
c u r r e n t
through
e l e c t r o d e s o n
such
a d e v i c e .
The
passage
of
u r r e n t
c a u s e s
c h a n g e s
i n
e l e c t r i c a l p o t e n t i a l s
a c r o s s v i s u a l
n e u r o n a l
membranes, Which can i n i t i a t e v i s u a l neuron a c t i o n p o t e n
t i a l s ,
Which
a r e t h e
means
of
i n f o r m a t i o n
t r a n s f e r i n
t h e
nervous
s y s t e m .
Based on
h i s m e c h a n i s m ,
i t i s p o s s i b l e t o i n p u t i n f o r m a
t i o n
i n t o
t h e n e r v o u s
system
by
c o d i n g
t h e i n f o r m a t i o n
a s
a
s e q u e n c e o f e l e c t r i c a l p u l s e s Which r e r e l a y e d
t o t h e
n e r v o u s
s y s t e m v i a t h e
p r o s t h e t i c d e v i c e .
I n t h i s
W a y , i t
i s p o s s i b l e t o
p r o v i d e a r t i ? c i a l
s e n s a t i o n s i n c l u d i n g v i s i o n .
One y p i c a l
a p p l i c a t i o n o f e u r a l t i s s u e s t i m u l a t i o n
s
i n t h e
r e h a b i l i t a t i o n
o f
t h e b l i n d .
S ome f o r m s
o f b l i n d n e s s i n v o l v e
s e l e c t i v e
l o s s
o f t h e
l i g h t
s e n s i t i v e
t r a n s d u c e r s
o f
t h e
r e t i n a .
O t h e r
r e t i n a l n e u r o n s
r e m a i n v i a b l e , h o W e v e r ,
and
may
be
a c t i v a t e d i n t h e manner d e s c r i b e d above b y p l a c e m e n t o f a
p r o s t h e t i c
e l e c t r o d e d e v i c e on h e i n n e r ( t o W a r d t h e
v i t r e o u s )
r e t i n a l s u r f a c e e p i r e t i n a l ) . T h i s p l a c e m e n t m u s t
b e
m e c h a n i
c a l l y
s t a b l e ,
m i n i m i Z e
t h e d i s t a n c e
b e t W e e n
t h e
d e v i c e e l e c
t r o d e s a n d t h e v i s u a l n e u r o n s , and
a v o i d
undue
c o m p r e s s i o n
of
h e
v i s u a l
n e u r o n s .
I n 1 9 8 6 , B u l l a r a US. P a t . N o . 4 , 5 7 3 , 4 8 1 ) p a t e n t e d a n
e l e c t r o d e assembly f o r s u r g i c a l i m p l a n t a t i o n
on
a n e r v e . The
m a t r i x
Was s i l i c o n e With embedded
i r i d i u m
e l e c t r o d e s . The
assembly
? t
around
a nerve t o s t i m u l a t e
i t .
DaWson and R a d t k e
s t i m u l a t e d c a t ’ s
r e t i n a
by
d i r e c t
e l e c
t r i c a l
s t i m u l a t i o n
o f
t h e r e t i n a l
g a n g l i o n
c e l l l a y e r . T h e s e
e x p e r i m e n t e r s p l a c e d n i n e
a n d
t h e n f o u r t e e n
e l e c t r o d e s upon
t h e
i n n e r
r e t i n a l l a y e r ( i . e . , p r i m a r i l y t h e g a n g l i o n c e l l l a y e r )
o f tWo c a t s . T h e i r
e x p e r i m e n t s s u g g e s t e d
t h a t
e l e c t r i c a l
s t i m u l a t i o n o f t h e r e t i n a With 30
o
100
uA
u r r e n t r e s u l t e d i n
v i s u a l c o r t i c a l r e s p o n s e s .
These
e x p e r i m e n t s Were a r r i e d o u t
W i t h
n e e d l e - s h a p e d
e l e c t r o d e s
t h a t p e n e t r a t e d
t h e
s u r f a c e o f
t h e
r e t i n a ( s e e
a l s o
US.
a t .
N o .
4 , 6 2 8 , 9 3 3 t o M i c h e l s o n ) .
The
Michelson
’ 9 3 3 a p p a r a t u s
i n c l u d e s
an a r r a y o f h o t o
s e n s i t i v e d e v i c e s
o n
t s s u r f a c e t h a t a r e connected o a p l u r a l
i t y
o f
e l e c t r o d e s
p o s i t i o n e d
on
t h e
o p p o s i t e
s u r f a c e
o f
t h e
d e v i c e
t o
s t i m u l a t e t h e
r e t i n a . These
e l e c t r o d e s
a r e
d i s p o s e d
t o form an
a r r a y
s i m i l a r t o
a
“bed of a i l s ”
having c o n d u c t o r s
Which
i m p i n g e d i r e c t l y
on t h e r e t i n a t o s t i m u l a t e t h e r e t i n a l
c e l l s . US.
a t .
N o .
4 , 8 3 7 , 0 4 9 t o B y e r s d e s c r i b e s s p i k e
e l e c
t r o d e s
f o r n e u r a l s t i m u l a t i o n . E a c h s p i k e e l e c t r o d e
p i e r c e s
n e u r a l
t i s s u e
f o r b e t t e r e l e c t r i c a l c o n t a c t . US.
a t .
No.
5 , 2 1 5 ,
088
to
N o r m a n
d e s c r i b e s
an a r r a y of
s p i k e
e l e c t r o d e s
f o r
c o r t i c a l s t i m u l a t i o n . E a c h s p i k e
p i e r c e s
c o r t i c a l t i s s u e f o r
b e t t e r
e l e c t r i c a l
c o n t a c t .
The a r t o f i m p l a n t i n g a n
i n t r a o c u l a r p r o s t h e t i c d e v i c e
t o
e l e c t r i c a l l y s t i m u l a t e t h e r e t i n a
Was
advanced W i t h t h e i n t r o
d u c t i o n
o f r e t i n a l
t a c k s
i n r e t i n a l
s u r g e r y .
D e
J u a n ,
e t
a l .
a t
Duke n i v e r s i t y Eye C e n t e r i n s e r t e d e t i n a l
t a c k s i n t o
r e t i n a s
i n
an e f f o r t t o
r e a t t a c h r e t i n a s
t h a t
had detached from t h e
u n d e r l y i n g c h o r o i d , Which s t h e
s o u r c e
o f b l o o d s u p p l y
f o r
t h e o u t e r
r e t i n a
and
t h u s t h e p h o t o r e c e p t o r s . S e e ,
e . g . ,
E .
d e
J u a n , e t a l . ,
9 9 Am.
. O p t h a l m o l . 2 7 2 ( 1 9 8 5 ) . T h e s e r e t i n a l
t a c k s
h a v e
p r o v e d
o
b e b i o c o m p a t i b l e a n d
r e m a i n
embedded
i n
t h e
e t i n a , a n d
h o r o i d / s c l e r a ,
e f f e c t i v e l y p i n n i n g
t h e
e t i n a
a g a i n s t t h e
c h o r o i d
a n d t h e p o s t e r i o r a s p e c t s o f t h e g l o b e .
R e t i n a l t a c k s
a r e
one
Way o
a t t a c h a
r e t i n a l
a r r a y
t o
t h e
r e t i n a .
US. P a t .
No.
5 , 1 0 9 , 8 4 4
t o de Juan d e s c r i b e s a ? a t e l e c t r o d e
a r r a y p l a c e d a g a i n s t t h e r e t i n a
f o r
v i s u a l
s t i m u l a t i o n .
U . . P a t .
N o .
5 , 9 3 5 , 1 5 5
t o Humayun d e s c r i b e s a
v i s u a l p r o s t h e s i s
f o r
u s e
With t h e ? a t
r e t i n a l
a r r a y d e s c r i b e d
i n
d e J u a n .
SUMMARY
According
t o a
? r s t
a s p e c t , a
v i s u a l p r o s t h e s i s a p p a r a t u s
c o m p r i s i n g : a camera
f o r
c a p t u r i n g a v i d e o i m a g e ; a v i d e o
7/21/2019 US8000000.pdf
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us8000000pdf 19/25
US
8 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0
B2
3
p r o c e s s i n g u n i t a s s o c i a t e d W i t h
t h e
c a m e r a ,
t h e
v i d e o p r o
c e s s i n g
u n i t c o n ? g u r e d
t o c o n v e r t t h e v i d e o i m a g e t o s t i m u
l a t i o n
p a t t e r n s ; and
r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n
s y s t e m
con?gured
o
s t o p s t i m u l a t i n g n e u r a l t i s s u e i n a
s u b j e c t ’ s e y e
b a s e d on t h e
s t i m u l a t i o n
p a t t e r n s
W h e n an
e r r o r
i s
d e t e c t e d i n
a forWard
t e l e m e t r y
r e c e i v e d f r o m t h e
v i d e o p r o c e s s i n g
u n i t .
A c c o r d i n g
t o
a
s e c o n d
a s p e c t ,
method
f o r l i m i t i n g
poWer
c o n s u m p t i o n i n a v i s u a l p r o s t h e s i s
a p p a r a t u s
c o m p r i s i n g a
v i d e o
c a p t u r e d e v i c e
and
a
r e t i n a l
s t i m u l a t i o n
s y s t e m i s d i s
c l o s e d t h e m e t h o d c o m p r i s i n g :
d e t e r m i n i n g i f
a s u b j e c t i s
W e a r i n g t h e v i d e o c a p t u r e
d e v i c e ;
a n d t r a n s m i t t i n g p o W e r a n d
d a t a t o t h e r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m o n l y a s l o n g a s t h e
s u b j e c t i s W e a r i n g t h e
v i d e o
c a p t u r e d e v i c e .
According t o
a t h i r d
a s p e c t ,
a method f o r
l i m i t i n g poWer
c o n s u m p t i o n i n a v i s u a l p r o s t h e s i s
a p p a r a t u s
c o m p r i s i n g a
r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n
s y s t e m
and a
v i d e o p r o c e s si n g
u n i t
i s
d i s c l o s e d ,
t h e
m e t h o d c o m p r i s i n g :
d e t e r m i n i n g
i f t h e r e t i n a l
s t i m u l a t i o n
s y s t e m
i s
t r a n s m i t t i n g a b a c k
t e l e m e t r y t o
t h e
v i d e o
p r o c e s s i n g
n i t ;
a n d t r a n s m i t t i n g
poWer a n d
d a t a
t o
t h e
r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n
s y s t e m o n l y a s l o n g a s t h e
r e t i n a l s t i m u l a
t i o n s y s t e m t r a n s m i t s
t h e
b a c k t e l e m e t r y .
A c c o r d i n g
t o
a
f o u r t h
a s p e c t ,
a v i s u a l p r o s t h e s i s
a p p a r a t u s
c o m p r i s i n g : a
camera
f o r
c a p t u r i n g
a v i d e o
i m a g e ;
and a
v i d e o
p r o c e s s i n g u n i t a s s o c i a t e d
W i t h
t h e camera and a s s o c i
a t e d W i t h a r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m , Wherein t h e v i d e o
p r o c e s s i n g
u n i t
i s
c o n ? g u r e d
t o c o n v e r t t h e v i d e o i m a g e to
s t i m u l a t i o n p a t t e r n s and t r a n s m i t t h e s t i m u l a t i o n p a t t e r n s to
t h e
r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m f o r
s t i m u l a t i o n
o f n e u r a l t i s s u e
i n
a
s u b j e c t ’ e y e , and
h e
v i d e o
p r o c e s s i n g u n i t
i s
con?gured
t o
s t o p
t r a n s m i t t i n g t h e s t i m u l a t i o n
p a t t e r n s
t o t h e r e t i n a l
s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m When
h e
r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m d o e s
n o t
t r a n s m i t back t e l e m e t r y o r When
t h e
r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n
system
d e t e c t s
an
e r r o r i n
a forWard
t e l e m e tr y r e c e i v e d from
t h e v i d e o
p r o c e s s i n g
u n i t .
According t o a
? f t h
a s p e c t , a method f o r
l i m i t i n g poWer
c o n s u m p t i o n
i n
a v i s u a l p r o s t h e s i s
a p p a r a t u s
c o m p r i s i n g a
r e t i n a l
s t i m u l a t i o n
s y s t e m
and
a v i d e o p r o c e s si n g
u n i t
i s
d i s c l o s e d ,
t h e m e t h o d c o m p r i s i n g : a ) t r a n s m i t t i n g p o W e r a n d
d a t a v i a f o r W a r d t e l e m e t r y t o t h e r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m ;
b ) d e t e r m i n i n g
i f
t h e
r e t i n a l
s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m i s t r a n s m i t
t i n g a b a c k t e l e m e t r y t o t h e
v i d e o
p r o c e s s i n g u n i t ;
c )
s t o p
t r a n s m i t t i n g t h e
poWer
a n d t h e d a t a v i a f o r W a r d
t e l e m e t r y
to
t h e
r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m When
t h e
r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n
s y s t e m
d o e s
n o t t r a n s m i t t h e
b a c k
t e l e m e t r y ; d ) t r a n s m i t t i n g
t h e
poWer
t o t h e r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m f o r a
p r e d e t e r
mined a m o u n t o f
t i m e ;
e ) d e t e r m i n i n g
i f t h e
r e t i n a l s t i m u l a
t i o n s y s t e m
i s t r a n s m i t t i n g t h e
b a c k t e l e m e t r y
d u r i n g t h e
p r e d e t e r m i n e d a m o u n t o f
t i m e ;
f )
s t o p
t r a n s m i t t i n g p o W e r o
t h e r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n
s y s t e m
When t h e r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n
s y s t e m
d o e s
n o t t r a n s m i t t h e
b a c k t e l e m e t r y
d u r i n g t h e
p r e
d e t e r m i n e d
a m o u n t o f t i m e ;
a n d
g ) r e p e a t i n g
f e a t u r e s d )
t h r o u g h f ) u n t i l
t h e r e t i n a l
s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m t r a n s m i t s t h e
b a c k t e l e m e t r y .
F u r t h e r
embodiments
a r e
shoWn n t h e s p e c i ? c a ti o n , draW
i n g s a n d c l a i m s o f t h e p r e s e n t a p p l i c a t i o n .
BRIEF
DESCRIPTIONOF THE FIGURES
F I G . 1
shoWs
a
v i s u a l
p r o s t h e s i s
a p p a r at u s a c c o r d i n g
o t h e
p r e s e n t
d i s c l o s u r e .
FIGS. 2 and 3
shoW
a r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n
s y s t e m
a d a p t e d t o
b e i m p l a n t e d i n t o a s u b j e c t .
F I G . 4
shoWs
a f r o n t
vieW o f
t h e i m p l a n t e d r e t i n a l s t i m u
l a t i o n s y s t e m .
F I G .
5 shoWs a s i d e vieW
o f
t h e
i m p l a n t e d
s y s t e m o f
F I G .
9 .
20
25
30
35
4 0
4 5
50
55
60
6 5
4
FIGS. 6
and
shoW a v i d e o
c a p t u r e / t r an s m i s s i o n a p p a r a t u s
o r v i s o r a d a p t e d t o be used i n
c o m b i n a t i o n
W i t h t h e r e t i n a l
s t i m u l a t i o n o f FIGS.
2
and .
FIG. 8
shoWs
a ? e x i b l e
c i r c u i t
e l e c t r o d e
a r r a y , a l s o
shoWn
i n F I G . 2 .
F I G .
9
s h o W s c o m p o n e n t s
o f a
? t t i n g
s y s t e m a c c o r d i n g t o
t h e
p r e s e n t
d i s c l o s u r e ,
t h e s y s t e m
a l s o
c o m p r i s i n g t h e v i s o r
shoWn
i n
FIGS. 4
and
.
F I G .
1 0
shoWs t h e v i s u a l p r o s t h e s i s a p p a r a t u s
i n
a s t a n d
a l o n e
mode,
i . e .
c o m p r i s i n g t h e v i s o r
c o n n e c t e d
t o a v i d e o
p r o c e s s i n g u n i t .
F I G S .
1 1 - 1 2 s h o W t h e v i d e o p r o c e s s i n g n i t
a l r e a d y
b r i e ? y
shoWn With
e f e r e n c e
t o F I G . 8 .
FIG.
1 3 1 1 shows a
LOSS
OF SYNC ode.
F I G .
13b
s h o W s
a n e x e m p l a r y
b l o c k
d i a g r a m o f t h e
s t e p s
t a k e n When VPU o e s n o t
r e c e i v e back t e l e m e t r y
from
t h e
R e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m .
F I G .
1 3 0 s h o w s
a n e x e m p l a r y b l o c k d i a g r a m
o f t h e
s t e p s
t a k e n When t h e s u b j e c t i s n o t
W e a r i n g
G l a s s e s .
F I G S .
1 4 - 1 , 1 4 - 2 ,
1 4 - 3 a n d
1 4 - 4
shoW a n
e x e m p l a r y
embodiment o f a v i d e o
p r o c e s s i n g
u n i t . F I G .
1 4 - 1
s h o u l d b e
vieWed t t h e
l e f t
of I G . 1 4 - 2 . FIG.
1 4 - 3
s h o u l d
be
vieWed t
t h e
l e f t
o f F I G .
1 4 - 4 .
FIGS.
1 4 - 1
and
1 4 - 2 s h o u l d b e
vieWed
o n t o p ofFIGS.
1 4 - 3
and 1 4 - 4 .
I n t h e
f o l l o W i n g
d e s c r i p t i o n , l i k e r e f e r e n c e numbers
a r e
u s e d t o
i d e n t i f y
l i k e e l e m e n t s . F u r t h e r m o r e ,
t h e d r a W i n g s a r e
i n t e n d e d t o i l l u s t r a t e m a j o r f e a t u r e s o f e x e m p l a r y e m b o d i
ments
i n a diagrammatic manner.
The
draWings a r e not
i n t e n d e d t o d e p i c t e v e r y
f e a t u r e
o f e v e r y i m p l e m e n t a t i o n n o r
r e l a t i v e d i m e n s i o n s o f t h e d e p i c t e d e l e m e n t s , and a r e n o t
draWn t o s c a l e .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e
s
c o n c e r n e d
W i t h
a v i s u a l a p p a r a t u s
and a
method
o r c r e a t i o n o f a r t i ? c i a l v i s i o n . I n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e
p r e s e n t d i s c l o s u r e
p r o v i d e s an
n t e r f a c e
and
method f o r con
t r o l l i n g
a
v i s u a l p r o s t h e s i s
( i . e .
d e v i c e )
i m p l a n t e d
i n
a n
i n d i
v i d u a l p a t i e n t ( i . e . s u b j e c t ) t o
c r e a t e a r t i ? c i a l
v i s i o n .
F I G .
1
shoWs
a
v i s u a l p r o s t h e s i s
a p p a r a t u s . The
v i s u a l
a p p a r a t u s c o m p r i s e s ,
i n
c o m b i n a t i o n , a n i m p l a n t a b l e r e t i n a l
s t i m u l a t i o n
s y s t e m 1 and a v i d e o
c a p t u r e / t r a n s m i s s i o n
a p p a
r a t u s
o r v i s o r embodied i n v i s o r / G l a s s e s 5 . An
exemplary
r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n system 1 i s
shoWn
n more d e t a i l i n FIGS.
2
and 3 and an exemplary
v i s o r 5
i s shoWn i n
more
d e t a i l
i n
FIGS. 6
and .
The
e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n
s y s t e m 1 i s
f u r t h e r d i s c l o s e d
i n US.
a p p l i c a t i o n
S e r .
N o .
1 1 / 2 0 7 , 6 4 4 , ? l e d
A u g . 1 9 ,
2 0 0 5
f o r
“ F l e x i b l e
C i r c u i t E l e c t r o d e
A r r a y ”
b y
R o b e r t . G r e e n b e r g ,
e t
a l . i n c o r p o r a t e d h e r e i n
b y r e f e r e n c e , a n d
s
i n t e n d e d f o r
u s e
i n
s u b j e c t s W i t h r e t i n i t i s p i g m e n t o s a .
The
i s o r 5
i s
f u r t h e r d i s
c l o s e d
i n
I n t e r n a t i o n a l
P a t e n t A p p l i c a t i o n
N o .
PCT/US07/
1 3 9 1 8 ,
? l e d on J u n . 1 4 , 2007 and
e n t i t l e d
“APPARATUS
AND METHOD FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF
HUMAN ETIN , ” a l s o
i n c o r p o r a t e d h e r e i n
b y r e f e r e n c e .
The e x e m p l a r y r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m 1 , shoWn i n
F I G S . 2 a n d 3 , i s a n
i m p l a n t a b l e
e l e c t r o n i c
d e v i c e
c o n t a i n i n g
an
i n d u c t i v e
c o i l 116 and
an e l e c t r o d e
a r r a y
2
t h a t i s
e l e c t r i
c a l l y c o u p l e d b y a c a b l e 3
t h a t
p i e r c e s
s c l e r a
o f t h e s u b j e c t ’ s
e y e t o a n e l e c t r o n i c s package 4 , e x t e r n a l to t h e
s c l e r a .
The
r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m 1
i s
d e s i g n e d ,
f o r e x a m p l e ,
t o
e l i c i t
v i s u a l
p e r c e p t s
i n
b l i n d s u b j e c t s
W i t h
r e t i n i t i s
p i g m e n t o s a .
H uman i s i o n p r o v i d e s a ? e l d o f vieW t h a t
i s
W i d e r t h a n t
i s
h i g h . T h i s
i s
p a r t i a l l y
due t o f a c t
t h a t
W e
a v e tWo
e y e s ,
b u t
e v e n
a
s i n g l e e y e
p r o v i d e s a ? e l d
o f vieW
t h a t i s a p p r o x i
m a t e l y
9 0 ° h i g h a n d
1 4 0 °
t o
1 6 0 0
d e g r e e s W i d e . I t i s t h e r e f o r e ,
a d v a n t a g e o u s t o
p r o v i d e a ? e x i b l e
c i r c u i t e l e c t r o d e
a r r a y 2
7/21/2019 US8000000.pdf
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us8000000pdf 20/25
US
8 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0
B2
5
t h a t i s W i d e r t h a n
i t
i s t a l l . T h i s i s
e q u a l l y a p p l i c a b l e to
a
c o r t i c a l
v i s u a l
a r r a y . I n
Which
a s e , t h e Wider dimension
s n o t
h o r i z o n t a l on t h e
v i s u a l
c o r t e x , b u t c o r r e s p o n d s
t o
h o r i z o n t a l
i n t h e
v i s u a l s c e n e .
F I G . 8 shoWs t h e ? e x i b l e c i r c u i t e l e c t r o d e a r r a y 2 p r i o r t o
f o l d i n g a n d a t t a c h i n g t o t h e e l e c t r o n i c s p a c k a g e 4 o f F I G . 2 .
At one
end
of
h e ? e x i b l e c i r c u i t c a b l e 3 i s an n t e r c o n n e c t i o n
pad 5 2 f o r c o n n e c t i o n t o t h e
e l e c t r o n i c s
p a c k a g e 4 . At t h e
o t h e r end
o f
t h e ? e x i b l e
c i r c u i t
c a b l e 3 i s t h e ? e x i b l e
c i r c u i t
e l e c t r o d e a r r a y 2 . F u r t h e r , an a t t a c h m e n t
p o i n t
54
may
be
p r o v i d e d
n e a r t h e ? e x i b l e
c i r c u i t
e l e c t r o d e a r r a y
2 . A
e t i n a
t a c k
n o t s h o W n ) i s p l a c e d t h r o u g h h e a t t a c h m e n t p o i n t 5 4 t o
hold
h e
? e x i b l e
c i r c u i t e l e c t r o d e ar r a y
2
to t h e r e t i n a . A t r e s s
r e l i e f 5 7 may b e
p r o v i d e d
s u r r o u n d i n g t h e
a t t a c h m e n t
p o i n t
5 4 . The
s t r e s s
r e l i e f
57
may be
made
o f a
s o f t e r
polymer h a n
t h e ? e x i b l e c i r c u i t ,
o r
t may n c l u d e c u t o u t s
o r t h i n n i n g
of h e
polymer
to r e d u c e
t h e s t r e s s t r a n s m i t t e d from t h e r e t i n a t a c k
to t h e ? e x i b l e c i r c u i t e l e c t r o d e a r r a y
2 .
The ? e x i b l e c i r c u i t
c a b l e 3 may
be
formed n a dog l e g p a t t e r n s o t h a n When
t i s
f o l d e d t f o l d 4 8 i t e f f e c t i v e l y f o r m s a s t r a i g h t ? e x i b l e
c i r c u i t
c a b l e 3
W i t h
a
n a r r o W e r
p o r t i o n
a t
t h e f o l d
48
f o r p a s s i n g
t h r o u g h t h e
s c l e r o t o m y .
The e l e c t r o d e ar r a y 2
may
c o m p r i s e
a
polyimide
c a b l e
t h a t
houses W i r e c o n d u c t o r s
and
an
r r a y
of
e x p o s e d
p l a t i n u m
e l e c t r o d e s
i n
a g r i d . I n o n e
e m b o d i m e n t ,
t h e r e
a r e s i x t y e l e c t r o d e s a r r a n g e d i n a 6x10 r i d .
The e l e c t r o n i c s
package 4
o f FIGS.
2
and
3
c a n b e e l e c t r i
c a l l y
c o u p l e d t o
t h e i n d u c t i v e
c o i l 1 1 6 .
I n o n e a s p e c t , t h e
i n d u c t i v e c o i l 116
c o n t a i n s
a r e c e i v e r
and t r a n s m i t t e r
a n t e n
n a e made from W o u n d i r e . A l t e r n a t i v e l y , t h e i n d u c t i v e c o i l
116 may be
made from a
t h i n ?lm
polymer
sandWich W i t h
W i r e t r a c e s d e p o s i t e d
b e t W e e n
l a y e r s o f
t h i n ?lm p o l y m e r .
The
e l e c t r o n i c s
p a c k a g e
4 may
c o n t a i n
c o m p o n e n t s a n d a n
A p p l i c a t i o n
S p e c i ? c I n t e g r a t e d C i r c u i t
( A S I C )
f o r p r o c e s s
i n g t h e r e c e i v e d d a t a a n d u s i n g t h e
r e c e i v e d poWer
o
g e n e r a t e
t h e r e q u i r e d s t i m u l a t i o n o u t p u t .
T h e
e l e c t r o n i c s p a c k a g e 4
and t h e i n d u c t i v e c o i l 116 may b e
h e l d
t o g e t h e r
by
a molded
body
1 1 8 shoWn i n F I G .
3 .
As
a l s o
shoWn
i n
F I G .
3 , t h e
molded body
118
may
a l s o
i n c l u d e
s u t u r e t a b s
1 2 0
shoWn
n
F I G .
3 .
The molded
body
narroWs t o form a s t r a p
122 Which
s u r r o u n d s t h e
s c l e r a a n d
h o l d s t h e molded body 1 1 8 , i n d u c
t i v e c o i l
1 1 6 ,
a n d
e l e c t r o n i c s p a c k a g e
4
i n p l a c e .
The molded
body 1 1 8 ,
s u t u r e
t a b s
1 2 0 and s t r a p 1 2 2
a r e p r e f e r a b l y
a n
i n t e g r a t e d
u n i t
made f s i l i c o n e e l a s to m e r . S i l i c o n e e l a s t o m e r
can be formed n a
p r e - c u r v e d
s h a p e
t o
match h e c u r v a t u r e of
a t y p i c a l s c l e r a .
F u r t h e r m o r e ,
s i l i c o n e r e m a i n s
? e x i b l e
enough o accommodate
i m p l a n t a t i o n a n d
t o
a d a p t
t o
v a r i a
t i o n s
i n
t h e
c u r v a t u r e of
an
n d i v i d u a l
s c l e r a .
I n one s p e c t ,
t h e
i n d u c t i v e c o i l 1 1 6
and molded
body
118 a r e
o v a l
s h a p e d , and
i n t h i s
W a y ,
a
s t r a p
122
c a n
b e t t e r s u p p o r t t h e o v a l
s h a p e d o i l .
The
eye moves o n s t a n t l y . The eye moves o scan
a
scene
a n d a l s o h a s
a j i t t e r
m o t i o n t o p r e v e n t
image
s t a b i l i Z a t i o n .
Even t h o u g h s u c h m o t i o n i s u s e l e s s i n t h e b l i n d ,
i t
o f t e n
c o n t i n u e s
l o n g
a f t e r a p e r s o n
h a s
l o s t
t h e i r
s i g h t .
T h u s , i n
one
embodiment o f t h e p r e s e n t
d i s c l o s u r e ,
t h e e n t i r e r e t i n a l
s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m 1 o f t h e p r o s t h e s i s
i s a t t a c h e d t o
and
s u p p o r t e d b y t h e s c l e r a o f a s u b j e c t . By p l a c i n g t h e d e v i c e
under
t h e
r e c t u s muscles W i t h
t h e
e l e c t r o n i c s package i n an
a r e a
o f f a t t y t i s s u e betWeen t h e r e c t u s m u s c l e s ,
e y e
motion
d o e s n o t c a u s e a n y ? e x i n g Which i g h t f a t i g u e , a n d e v e n t u
a l l y
d a m a g e , t h e d e v i c e .
F I G . 3 shoWs a s i d e vieW
of
h e r e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n
system
1 , i n
p a r t i c u l a r ,
e m p h a s i Z i n g
t h e
f a n a i l 1 2 4 .
When h e e t i n a l
p r o s t h e s i s i s
i m p l a n t e d ,
t h e s t r a p 1 2 2 s p a s s e d u n d e r t h e e y e
muscles t o
s u r r o u n d t h e
s c l e r a .
The i n d u c t i v e
c o i l
116
and
molded
body
1 1 8
s h o u l d
a l s o
f o l l o W
t h e s t r a p u n d e r t h e
l a t e r a l
r e c t u s muscle
o n t h e s i d e of t h e s c l e r a . The
r e t i n a l
s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m 1 o f h e
v i s u a l
p r o s t h e s i s
a p p a r a t u s
i s
v e r y
20
25
30
35
4 0
4 5
50
55
60
6 5
6
d e l i c a t e . I t
i s e a s y
t o t e a r t h e
molded body
118
o r b r e a k W i r e s
i n t h e
i n d u c t i v e
c o i l 1 1 6 . I n o r d e r t o a l l o W t h e molded body
1 1 8
to
s l i d e s m o o t h l y u n d e r
t h e l a t e r a l
r e c t u s
m u s c l e ,
t h e
molded
body s s h a p e d i n t h e form o f a
f a n
a i l
124 o n h e end
o p p o s i t e
t h e
e l e c t r o n i c s p a c k a g e 4 . E l e m e n t 1 2 3 shoWs
a
r e t e n t i o n s l e e v e , W h i l e e l e m e n t s 126 and 128 shoW h o l e s
f o r
s u r g i c a l
p o s i t i o n i n g
a n d
a
r a m p
f o r s u r g i c a l p o s i t i o n i n g ,
r e s p e c t i v e l y .
FIGS. 4 and 5 shoW f r o n t
and
s i d e
v i e W s o f
t h e R e t i n a l
s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m 1
i m p l a n t e d
W i t h r e s p e c t
t o
t h e s u b j e c t ’ s
e y e 7 . As
shoWn n
FIGS.
4
and ,
t h e
e l e c t r o d e
a r r a y 2
e n t e r s
t h e
e y e t h r o u g h
a
p a r s p l a n a i n c i s i o n and i s
p l a c e d
on t h e
r e t i n a
o v e r
t h e f o v e a u s i n g a
r e t i n a l
t a c k . The
r e m a i n i n g
R e t i n a l s t i m u l a t i o n
s y s t e m
1
i s
s e c u r e d t o t h e e y e
by
means
o f
a s c l e r a l band
h e l d
i n p l a c e by a WatZke
s l e e v e
( t y p i c a l o f
s c l e r a l
p r o c e d u r e s ) ,
a n d a l s o
b y
s u t u r e t a b s . A d d i t i o n a l l y ,
a n o t h e r s u t u r e may b e p l a c e d a r o u n d
t h e
s c l e r a l
band
i n
t h e
i n f e r i o r
m e d i a l
q u a d r a n t o f t h e
e y e .
R e f e r r i n g o F I G S . 6 a n d
,
t h e g l a s s e s 5
may
o m p r i s e , f o r
example, a
frame
11
h o l d i n g
a
camera 1 2 ,
an
e x t e r n a l c o i l
14
and
mounting
s y s t e m 1 6 f o r t h e
e x t e r n a l
c o i l
1 4 . The mou nt
i n g
s y s t e m 1 6
may
a l s o
e n c l o s e
t h e
R F c i r c u i t r y .
I n
t h i s
c o n ? g u r a t i o n , t h e v i d e o camera
1 2
c a p t u r e s
l i v e
v i d e o .
The
v i d e o
s i g n a l
i s s e n t
t o
a n e x t e r n a l
Video
P r o c e s s i n g
U n i t
( V PU) 0 ( s h o W n n F I G S . 9 , 1 1
a n d
1 2 a n d d i s c u s s e d b e l o W ) ,
Which
p r o c e s s e s t h e v i d e o s i g n a l a n d s u b s e q u e n t l y
t r a n s
f o r m s
t h e
p r o c e s s e d v i d e o
s i g n a l
i n t o e l e c t r i c a l s t i m u l a t i o n
p a t t e r n s o r d a t a . The e l e c t r i c a l s t i m u l a t i o n d a t a a r e
t h e n
s e n t
t o
t h e
e x t e r n a l c o i l 14 t h a t
s e n d s
b o t h
d a t a
and poWer
v i a
r a d i o - f r e q u e n c y ( R F )
t e l e m e t r y
t o t h e c o i l
1 1 6 o f
t h e
r e t i n a l
s t i m u l a t i o n s y s t e m 1 , shoWn n
F I G S .
2 a n d 3 . The o i l
1 1 6
r e c e i v e s t h e R F
commands
Which
c o n t r o l
t h e a p p l i c a t i o n
s p e c i ? c i n t e g r a t e d c i r c u i t
( A S I C )
W h i c h i n t u r n d e l i v e r s
s t i m u l a t i o n t o
t h e
r e t i n a o f
h e
s u b j e c t
v i a a
t h i n ?lm l e c t r o d e
a r r a y ( T F E A ) . I n o n e
a s p e c t
o f a n e m b o d i m e n t , l i g h t a m p l i
t u d e
i s
recorded
b y t h e camera 1 2 . The
VPU 0
may
use
a
l o g a r i t h m i c
e n c o d i n g
s c h e m e
t o
c o n v e r t
t h e
i n c o m i n g
l i g h t
a m p l i t u d e s i n t o
t h e
e l e c t r i c a l
s t i m u l a t i o n
p a t t e r n s
o r
d a t a .
These e l e c t r i c a l
s t i m u l a t i o n
p a t t e r n s o r
d a t a
may
t h e n
be
p a s s e d on o
t h e R e t i n a l
S t i m u l a t i o n
System
, Which
e s u l t s
i n t h e r e t i n a l c e l l s b e i n g s t i m u l a t e d v i a t h e e l e c t r o d e s i n t h e
e l e c t r o d e a r r a y 2 shoWn i n FIGS. 2 , 3 and
) .
I n one exem
p l a r y e m b o d i m e n t , t h e
e l e c t r i c a l
s t i m u l a t i o n p a t t e r n s
o r
d a t a
b e i n g t r a n s m i t t e d b y t h e e x t e r n a l c o i l
1 4
i s
b i n a r y d a t a . The
e x t e r n a l c o i l
14
may o n t a i n a r e c e i v e r and r a n s m i t t e r a n t e n
nae
and
a r a d i o - f r e q u e n c y RF)
e l e c t r o n i c s
c a r d
f o r
commu
n i c a t i n g W i t h t h e
i n t e r n a l c o i l 1 1 6 .
R e f e r r i n g
t o
F I G . 9 , a F i t t i n g S y s t e m ( F S )
may
b e
u s e d
t o
c o n ? g u r e an d
o p t i m i Z e h e
v i s u a l p r o s t h e s i s
a p p a r a t u s s h o W n
i n F I G . 1 .
The
i t t i n g
S y s t e m
i s
f u l l y
d e s c r i b e d i n
t h e
r e l a t e d
a p p l i c a t i o n
US.
a p p l i c a t i o n
S e r . N o .
l l / 7 9 6 , 4 2 5 , ? l e d
o n
A p r . 2 7 ,
2 0 0 7 , W h i c h s
i n c o r p o r a t e d h e r e i n b y
r e f e r e n c e
n
i t s
e n t i r e t y .
The
i t t i n g System may c o m p r i s e c u s t o m
s o f t W a r e
W i t h a
g r a p h i c a l u s e r
i n t e r f a c e
r u n n i n g
o n
a d e d i c a t e d l a p t o p com
p u t e r 1 0 . W i t h i n t h e F i t t i n g
S y s t e m
a r e m o d u l e s f o r p e r f o r m
i n g d i a g n o s t i c c h e c k s o f h e i m p l a n t , l o a d i n g a n d e x e c u t i n g
v i d e o c o n ? g u r a t i o n ? l e s , v i e W i n g
e l e c t r o d e
v o l t a g e W a v e
f o r m s , a n d i d i n g i n
c o n d u c t i n g p s y c h o p h y s i c a l
e x p e r i m e n t s .
A
i d e o
module
can be used
t o
doWnload a v i d e o
con?gura
t i o n ? l e
t o t h e
V i d e o
P r o c e s s i n g
U n i t
V
U) 2 0
d i s c u s s e d
above
and
s t o r e i t
i n
n o n - v o l a t i l e mem o ry t o c o n t r o l
v a r i o u s
a s p e c t s o f v i d e o
c o n ? g u r a t i o n ,
eg h e
s p a t i a l
r e l a t i o n s h i p
betWeen h e v i d e o i n p u t
and
t h e
e l e c t r o d e s .
The s o f t W a r e c a n
a l s o l o a d
a
p r e v i o u s l y
u s e d v i d e o
c o n ? g u r a t i o n
? l e
f r o m
t h e
VPU
0 f o r
a d j u s t m e n t .