Method and ocular implant for transmission of nerve-stimulation light

a technology of nerve stimulation and ocular implants, which is applied in the field of methods and apparatus for vision restoration and optical nerve stimulation, can solve the problems of slowing the disease progression, inherently hindering, and little hope for maintaining vision, and achieves enhanced perceived image resolution and enhanced patient comfor
US20140236270A1Inactive Publication Date: 2014-08-21LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US ¡ United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP
Publication Date
2014-08-21
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable ¡ inactive patent

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Abstract

An improved prosthesis and method for stimulating vision nerves to obtain a vision sensation that is useful for the patient that has lost vision due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and other diseases. The present invention utilizes infrared light to cause action potentials in the retinal nerves similar to those which result from rods and cones stimulated by visible light in healthy retinas. In some embodiments, the invention provides a pathway or “image pipe” for transmitting a stimulation pattern of infrared light from an external stimulator array through the eye and focusing the stimulation pattern of infrared light on the retina, especially the fovea. Some embodiments provide improved resolution down to a group of nerves, or even the individual nerve level, with sufficient energy density so as to cause a desired action potential.
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Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 204,610 filed Aug. 5, 2011, titled “Ocular Implant and Method for Transmission of Nerve-Stimulation Light” (to issue as U.S. Pat. No. 8,709,078 on Apr. 29, 2014), which claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 514,894 filed Aug. 3, 2011, titled “Sight-Restoring Visual Prosthetic and Method Using Infrared Nerve-Stimulation Light” (Attorney Docket 5032.067PV1), both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] This invention is related to the following prior applications and patents:U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 715,884 filed Sep. 9, 2005, titled “Apparatus and Method for Optical Stimulation of Nerves” (Attorney Docket 5032.009PV1);U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 257,793 filed Oct. 24, 2005, titled “Apparatus for Optical Stimulation of Nerves and Other Animal Tissue” (now U.S....

Claims

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