Intraocular implant with pinhole optic

Abstract

An intraocular implant that includes a micro-display orientated to present image data onto a retina of an eye of a user when the intraocular implant is inside the eye, and a pinhole optic that is arranged to focus the image data presented by the micro-display onto the retina when the implant is inside the eye.

Description

[0001] INTRAOCULAR IMPLANT WITH PINHOLE OPTIC

[0002] RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 559,739, filed February 29, 2024, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] FIELD

[0005] An embodiment of the disclosure relates to an intraocular implant that includes a pinhole optic to focus images projected by the implant onto a retina of a user’s eye while the implant is inside the eye. Other embodiments are also described.

[0006] BACKGROUND

[0007] Disease or injury to a cornea of a person can lead to opacification or significant optical damage to the cornea, such that the individual may be vision impaired (e.g., effectively rendered blind). Corneal blindness is an ocular condition where the corneal tissue may be damaged and impedes and / or distorts the natural passage and refraction of light through the anterior segment of the eye to properly present photons upon the retinal tissue for vision perception. Current solutions rely on eye banks for comeal transplants, and artificial corneas. Both, however, have issues with transplant rejection and surgical complications, and may also result in low visual acuity.

[0008] SUMMARY

[0009] Blindness due to corneal disease or injury may occur despite the person having a fully functioning retina. For such people, who have a functioning retina but otherwise are essentially blind due to vascularization or damage to the cornea, implantation of an intraocular projector may restore vision to the person. The intraocular projector receives an image of a scene before the person, the image having been captured by a head mounted camera, and then projects the image onto the retina of the eye. Another option is an implantation of an intraocular micro-display into the lens of the eye (e.g., into the capsular bag region), which may receive and display the image onto the user’s retina.

[0010] Bypassing a diseased or damaged cornea through the use of an intraocular implant with a micro-display may alleviate visual impairment. Conventional implants include a high diopter focusing optic placed in front of the micro-display to focus images of the display onto a retina of the eye. Such focusing optics, however, have a very low depth of field and therefore require extremely accurate placement of the micro-display with respect to the retina when implanted into the eye.

[0011] The present disclosure provides an intraocular implant of an intraocular system that includes a micro-display orientated to present images onto a retina of an eye of a user when the implant is inside the eye, and a pinhole optic that is arranged to focus images displayed by the micro-display onto a retina of the user’s eye. In particular, the pinhole optic may include a small pinhole (e.g., a circular opening) that may focus light produced by the micro-display onto at least a portion of the retina of the user’s eye. Such a system may replace conventional focusing optics (e.g., lenses) with the pinhole optic that is capable of achieving high depth of field, thereby greatly relaxing the placement accuracy of the intraocular implant to preserve the ability of the system to present a high-quality in- focus image upon the retina from the micro-display. In one embodiment, the micro-display and the pinhole optic may be a part of (integrated with) the intraocular implant. Tn another embodiment, the pinhole optic may include a wall that is in a shape of a cone that surrounds the micro-display and is coupled to the intraocular implant at a first end and an opening at a second end of the wall that is opposite to the first end. In particular, the implant may include a cone that may be coupled to the micro-display and includes the pinhole optic, where the cone tapers from an opening to the micro-display. In another embodiment, the inner surface of the wall may include a lightabsorbing material. In one embodiment, the micro-display may be a curved display.

[0012] In some embodiments, the implant may include several wires that couple the pinhole optic to the micro-display. In one embodiment, the wires may be flexible wires that are arranged to extend the pinhole optic to a distance from the micro-display responsive to an applied heat. In another embodiment, the pinhole optic is disposed at a distance that is halfway between the micro-display and at least a portion of the retina of the eye when the implant is inside the eye.

[0013] In one embodiment, an opening of the pinhole optic has a diameter between 75 - 150 micrometers. In another embodiment, the micro-display may include several light emitting diodes (LEDs), each having a full width at half maximum (FWHM) divergence of 44°. In some embodiments, the LEDs may be arranged within a 7-millimeter (mm) x 7-mm square, where a first LED that is adjacent to an edge of the square produces light at a higher brightness than a brightness of light produced by a second LED that is further away from the edge.

[0014] In another embodiment, the pinhole optic may include a wall that has a size that is at least the same as a size of the micro-display, and an opening that is at a center of the wall and that allows light produced by the micro-display to pass through the wall and towards the retina. Specifically, the wall may be a border that surrounds the opening, where the border may be sized similarly as the micro-display such that the only direct light produced by the micro-display that reaches the retina passes through the opening. In particular, the border may have a surface area along at least one side that is equal to or greater than a surface area of the micro-display. For example, when the micro-display is a 7-mm x 7-mm square, the border may have at least a same area.

[0015] Another embodiment of the disclosure includes an intraocular system that includes an intraocular implant that has a micro-display that is arranged to present images onto a retina of an eye when the intraocular implant is inside the eye and a pinhole optic that is arranged to focus the images presented by the micro-display onto the retina. In one embodiment, the pinhole optic may be separate from the intraocular implant, where the implant and the pinhole optic may be separately inserted into the eye.

[0016] The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all embodiments of the disclosure. It is contemplated that the disclosure includes all systems and methods that can be practiced from all suitable combinations of the various embodiments summarized above, as well as those disclosed in the Detailed Description below and particularly pointed out in the claims. Such combinations may have particular advantages not specifically recited in the above summary.

[0017] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment of this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one. Also, in the interest of conciseness and reducing the total number of figures, a given figure may be used to illustrate the features of more than one embodiment, and not all elements in the figure may be required for a given embodiment.

[0019] Fig. 1 is a plan view illustration of a user and an example intraocular system that includes an auxiliary device and an implant.

[0020] Fig. 2 is a side-view illustration of the user and the example intraocular system.

[0021] Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of the example intraocular system.

[0022] Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an eye that includes an intraocular implant with a micro-display and a pinhole optic.

[0023] Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the eye that includes the intraocular implant separate from the pinhole optic.

[0024] Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the eye that includes an intraocular implant with a curved micro-display.

[0025] Fig. 7 shows several stages in which a pinhole optic that is coupled to an intraocular implant via several wires is positioned at a desired pinhole location when heat is applied to the wires. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Several embodiments of the disclosure with reference to the appended drawings are now explained. Whenever the shapes, relative positions and other embodiments of the parts described in a given embodiment are not explicitly defined, the scope of the disclosure here is not limited only to the parts shown, which are meant merely for the purpose of illustration. Also, while numerous details are set forth, it is understood that some embodiments may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description. Furthermore, unless the meaning is clearly to the contrary, all ranges set forth herein are deemed to be inclusive of each range’s endpoints.

[0027] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0028] Embodiments of the intraocular system disclosed herein may be suitable for patients with intact retinas, yet are blind due to vascularization, occlusion, opacity, or otherwise damage of the cornea. The disclosed system seeks to (at least partially) restore sight to these patients by implanting an electronic intraocular implant (which may be referred to herein as “implant”) into the eye, such as in the capsular bag region of the eye previously occupied by an excised lens. In addition to restoring sight of patients, the disclosed system may be configured to enhance vision through the use of the intraocular implant. For example, the system may include a pinhole optic that ensures that images presented onto the retain may remain in focus regardless of distance between the pinhole and the retain and / or the pinhole and the micro-display.

[0029] Figs. 1 and 2 show a user 11 and an example intraocular system (hereafter may be referred to as “system”) 10 that may include an auxiliary device (e.g., headset) 12 and an intraocular implant (hereafter may be referred to as “implant”) 13, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Figs. 1 and 2 are plan and side view illustrations, respectively. As described herein, the intraocular system 10 may be configured to capture, using one or more cameras of the auxiliary device, image data (or video data, which may be a reproduction of one or more optical images) that includes a visual representation of the environment, which may be in an anterior (frontal or forward) direction of the user, and may be configured to optically present (or display) the captured image data through the implant 13 onto the retina of the user. More about presenting image data onto the retina of the user is described herein.

[0030] As shown, the illustrated auxiliary device 12 may be a pair of (e.g., smart) eyeglasses that are being worn by (e.g., on the head of) the user 11, and the implant 13 may be (implanted or at least partially) inside the (e.g., capsular bag region of the) user’s right eye. In one embodiment, the user 11 may include one or more implants, such as having one implant in the user’s right eye (as shown), and another implant in the user’s left eye. In which case, the system 10 may perform similar operations to transmit (image) data to the other implant, as described herein with respect to implant 13, such that the system 10 may present an image reproduction of the environment through both of the user’s eyes.

[0031] As described herein, the auxiliary device 12 (e.g., head-mounted device (HMD) or headset) may be eyeglasses that includes a frame 14 (or housing) that is being worn by the user 11. In one embodiment, the auxiliary device 12 may be any type of electronic device that may be worn on a user’s head, such as an eyepatch, goggles, a visor, headgear, headphones, or otherwise. In another embodiment, the auxiliary device 12 may be any type of electronic device, which may or may not be a part of (or worn on) the user’s head. For example, the auxiliary device may be a part of a user’s appeal (e.g., a part of or integrated into a hat worn by the user 11). Although the auxiliary device 12 is illustrated as a single contiguous frame 14, in other embodiments, auxiliary device may be segmented into two or more bodywearable modular components that may be interconnected and mounted or worn in various locations about the body or clothing, where the devices may be communicatively coupled with one another and / or with other electronic devices, such as the implant 13.

[0032] The auxiliary device 12 includes a camera 16 and an antenna mount 15 with one or more antennas 17, which as described herein may be used to wirelessly (over the air) transmit data and / or power to the implant 13. In particular, each or least some of the elements of the auxiliary device may be coupled to the frame 14. In this example, the frame is a glasses frame, where the elements are a part of (or integrated into) the frame 14. In one embodiment, the auxiliary device may include more or less elements, such as having more or less cameras.

[0033] In one embodiment, the camera 16 may be designed to capture optical (e.g., color) images as image data, where the data produced by the camera includes a scene of a visual representation of a field of view (FOV) of the camera. In particular, the camera may capture a video stream as the image data, where the stream may include a series of still images (e.g., as video frames). In one embodiment, the camera 16 may have a frontal FOV that is directed away from the user 11, in a forward direction with respect to the user. As a result, the camera 16 may be arranged to capture image data that includes a visual representation of an environment of the auxiliary device 12 (e.g., a room in which the user 11 is located). In one embodiment, the camera 16 may be designed to capture color images, which may be presented onto the user’s retina, as described herein. In one embodiment, the camera 16 may be configured to capture wavelengths of light that may not be in the visible spectrum, and produce color images of the spectrum. For example, the camera may be an infrared camera.

[0034] In one embodiment, the antenna mount 15 is shown as being coupled to (e.g., a temple of) the frame 14, and includes one or more antennas 17. In particular, the antennas may be attached to the mount via an articulable arm, which may be user (or automatically) manipulated in order to reposition the antennas. For instance, the antennas may be repositioned such that they are within a threshold distance of the implant 13, while the implant is inside the eye 18. In one embodiment, the mount may be coupled to a different location on the frame 14. As described herein, the antennas may be configured to provide wireless communication and / or power between the headset 12 and the implant 13. In another embodiment, the device 12 may have a wired connection (e.g., via one or more wires) to the implant (e.g., where the wires are surgically implanted through a portion (e.g., the eye) of the user.

[0035] Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of the example intraocular system 10 that includes the auxiliary device 12 and the intraocular implant 13. As described herein, while in use, the device 12 may be worn by a user, and the device may produce image data, such as a video stream that may include one or more images, which may be transmitted to the implant 13 for presentation (display) on at least a portion of the user’s retina, such as the macula 42, as shown in Fig. 4.

[0036] As shown, the auxiliary device 12 includes the camera 16, a controller 25, a power source 23, a wireless data transceiver (Tx / Rx) 26, a wireless power transmitter (Tx) 24, and the antennas 17, which include a power antenna 21 and a data antenna 22. In one embodiment, each of (or at least some of) these elements may be a part of or integrated to (e.g., the frame 14 of) the auxiliary device 12. In another embodiment, one or more of the elements may be separate from the (frame 14 of the) device 12. For example, the auxiliary device may receive image data from one or more cameras that may be a part of separate electronic devices (where the data may be received via a wireless data connection).

[0037] In one embodiment, the camera 16 may be a complementary metal-oxi desemiconductor (CMOS) image sensor that is capable of capturing digital (e.g., still) images including image data that represent a FOV of the camera 16, where the field of view includes a scene (e.g., visual representation) of an environment in which the device 12 is located. In some embodiments, the camera may be a charged-coupled device (CCD) camera type. The camera is configured to capture image data as a video stream, which may be represented as a series of still digital images (or image frames). In one embodiment, the camera may be positioned anywhere on (or in) the auxiliary device. In some embodiments, the auxiliary device may include and / or be (e.g., wirelessly) communicatively coupled to multiple cameras (e.g., where each camera may have a different FOV with respect to other cameras). In one embodiment, the video stream captured by the camera 16 may be high definition (HD) video that may include 10-bit 4k video, such as, for example, of resolution 3840 x 2160 pixels (which is also referred to as 2160p), 1920 x 1080 pixels (also referred to as 1080p video), and 1280 x 720 pixels (also referred to as 720p video) with a frame rate of 59.94 and / or 60 image frames per second (fps). In another embodiment, the resolution and / or frame rate (as fps) of the video stream captured by the camera may be different.

[0038] The controller 25 may be a special-purpose processor such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a general-purpose microprocessor, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal controller, or a set of hardware logic structures (e.g., filters, arithmetic logic units, and dedicated state machines). In one embodiment, the controller may include memory which may store one or more instructions, which when executed by the controller causes the auxiliary device to perform at least some of the operations described herein. In another embodiment, the controller 25 may be configured to receive image data (one or more images) captured by the camera 16 (e.g., while the auxiliary device is being worn by the user 1 1), perform signal processing operations (or video processing operations), and / or networking operations, as described herein. More about the operations performed by the controller 25 is described herein.

[0039] In one embodiment, the controller 25 may be configured to format (encode) image data for transmission to the implant 13. For instance, the controller may receive image data captured by the camera 16 and encode the image data into a format that may be suitable for wireless transmission and / or for presenting by the implant. For example, the controller may encode the data into a desired format, such as MPEG-4, and provide the encoded data to the wireless data Tx / Rx 26, which may process the video data for transmission. For example, the wireless data Tx / Rx 26 may use any number of encoding techniques including one or more of frequency modulation, phase modulation, amplitude modulation, and / or time multiplexing. The auxiliary device may transmit the encoded (video, image, etc.) data as a data signal 28 (e.g., an RF signal) via the data antenna 22 to the implant 13. In one embodiment, the data signal 28 may be any type of wireless connection, such as BLUETOOTH. As described herein, the implant may receive the encoded data and display the data on at least a portion of the user’ s retina.

[0040] In addition to (or in lieu of) transmitting image data to the implant, the auxiliary device 12 may be configured to provide power (e.g., wirelessly) to the implant 13. In particular, the auxiliary device 12 also includes a power source 23 may be any type of power source that is capable of powering (e.g., supplying current) to electronics of the auxiliary device 12. For instance, the power source may be a rechargeable battery that is housed within the auxiliary device 12. In one embodiment, the battery may be removable such that it may be charged. As described herein the power source may also be capable of supplying power to operate the (e.g., electronics of the) implant 13. Specifically, the wireless power Tx 24 may be configured to draw power from the power source 23 and wirelessly transmit power as a power signal 27 via the power antenna 21 to the implant 1 . Tn particular, the power source 23 may provide power via inductive power transfer. For instance, the wireless power Tx 24 may produce the power signal 27 as an electromagnetic field using the power antenna 21. In another embodiment, the power signal 27 may be any type of signal, such as an optical signal, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), etc., that is capable of wirelessly transmitting (over the air) power over a distance. As described herein, the implant may be configured to receive the power signal 27 for powering at least some of the electronics of the implant.

[0041] The implant 13 includes a power antenna 31, a wireless power Rx 34, a power supply 33, a data antenna 32, a wireless data Tx / Rx 36, control electronics 35, a micro-display 37, and pinhole optic 43. As shown, at least some of these elements may be (housed) within an enclosure 20 In one embodiment, the implant may include more or less elements, such as not having a pinhole optic. In another embodiment, the implant may include multiple microdisplays, each of which may be configured to present at least a portion of image data received from and captured by the auxiliary device’s camera(s).

[0042] In the illustrated embodiment, the implant 13 includes an enclosure 20 that may be arranged to house (at least some of the) elements (electronic components) of the implant 13, as described herein. In one embodiment, the enclosure 20 may be a biocompatible enclosure that is sized and shaped for implantation into an eye of a user. In one embodiment, enclosure 20 may be sized for implantation into the region of the capsular bag of an eye, as shown herein. In one embodiment, enclosure is a hermetically sealed enclosure fabricated of metal, polymers, or otherwise.

[0043] The micro-display 37 may be any type of image formation device which is designed to display (project) image data (as light). In one embodiment, the micro-display 37 may be a light emitting diode (LED) display that includes several LEDs arranged in one or more columns. For instance, the LEDs may be arranged in a square, of a given length, such as being a 7-millimeter (mm) x 7-mm square. Tn another aspect, the micro-display may be a liquid crystal display (LCD). In one embodiment, the micro-display may be sized (small enough) and / or shaped to fit entirely or partially inside the volume of the lens capsule of the eye, or into the anterior chamber of the eye, or into the vitreous humor of the eye.

[0044] As shown, the pinhole optic 43 may include an opening 39 (pinhole or pinhole opening) within the enclosure 20 that allows an inside of the enclosure to be at least optically communicatively coupled with an outside of the enclosure (e.g., an inside of an eye, while the implant is inserted into the eye). The pinhole optic 43 may be arranged to focus image data displayed by the micro-display 37 onto at least a portion of a retina of a user’s eye, while the implant is inside the eye. In one embodiment, the pinhole optic may include other elements, such as one or more lenses. In another embodiment, the pinhole optic may include a (e.g., clear or opaque) layer that covers the opening 39 of the pinhole optic to allow light produced by the micro-display 37 to pass through the pinhole optic 43 while not allowing objects to pass through the pinhole optic, thereby keeping the enclosure 20 sealed. In another embodiment, the clear or opaque layer may be a window that may be coupled to the pinhole optic 43, thereby allowing light to pass through the optic 43 and keeping the inside of the enclosure sealed from the outside of the enclosure.

[0045] In another embodiment, the pinhole optic 43 may be a structure (or a part of a structure) that may be coupled to the enclosure 20 (or may be a part of the enclosure). More about the pinhole optic is described herein.

[0046] In one embodiment, the control electronics 35 may include implant microelectronic circuitry that may be configured to perform one or more computational operations. In particular, the electronics may include any type of components, such as one or more processors, memory, etc., which may enable the electronics to perform at least some operations. More about the operations that may be performed by the control electronics 35 is described herein.

[0047] In one embodiment, the wireless power Rx 34 may be configured to receive the power signal 27, via the power antenna 31, and convert the signal into a current that may be supplied to the power supply 33. In one embodiment, the power supply 33 may include a power storage device (e.g., battery) to store the received power, and enables for continuous or uninterrupted supply of power to the electronics (e.g., the control electronics 35 and the micro-display 37) of the implant. In another embodiment, the power supply may condition and provide power to the implant, while the auxiliary device 12 is within a threshold distance of the implant. For example, in the case in which the auxiliary device 12 is a headset, the implant may receive the power signal 27 (and / or the data signal 28) while the headset is worn on the user’s head. If, however, the headset is removed from the user’s head (or the headset is moved beyond the threshold distance), the power signal 27 may no longer be received by the implant, and as a result the implant may stop operating, thereby deactivating (ceasing to power) at least some of the electronics of the implant. In another embodiment, the power supply 33 may provide power to the implant for a period of time after the power signal 27 is no longer received by the implant.

[0048] The implant 13 may be configured to receive image data (e.g., a video stream) in the data signal 28 and present the image data onto the retina of the user. In particular, the wireless data Tx / Rx 36 of the implant may receive the data signal 28, via the data antenna 32, and may extract image data from the received signal 28, and provide the image data to the control electronics 35. The control electronics 35 (e.g., which may include one or more processors) may process (e.g., decode) the image data, and present the image data through the micro-display 37 to project one or more images onto the retina that are captured by the camera 16 of the auxiliary device so as to present a scene that is before the user. Fig- 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an eye 18 that includes the implant 13 with the micro-display 37 and the pinhole optic 43. In particular, the implant includes the microdisplay that may be orientated (positioned) in the eye to present images onto the retina of the eye when the implant is inside the eye. The implant may use the pinhole optic in lieu of (e.g., replacing) a focusing optic (e.g., one or more focusing lenses) that would otherwise be used to focus images produced by the micro-display onto at least a portion of the retina 41 (e.g., the macula 42) of the eye of the user while the implant is inside the user’s eye. As described herein, replacing a focusing optic with the pinhole optic may allow the implant to take advantage of a pinhole effect to produce a focused image produced by the micro-display upon the retina 41.

[0049] As shown, the pinhole optic 43 is a cone that that may be coupled to (or integrated with) the implant 13, which tapers from (or near) the micro-display 37 towards the opening 39. In particular, the pinhole optic includes a wall 44 that is in a shape of a cone that surrounds (or at least partially surrounds) the micro-display and is coupled to the intraocular implant at a first end, and includes the opening 39 at a second end of the wall that is opposite to the first end. The cone may have a first length (width or diameter), Li, at the first end, and may have a second length, L2, at the second end that includes the opening 39, where Li may be greater than L2. In one embodiment, Li may be the same length as the (enclosure 20 of the) implant 13. In another embodiment, the wall 44 may be a part of the enclosure 20 of the implant, or may be coupled to the enclosure. In latter case, the enclosure 20 may enclose components of the implant, except for at least a portion of the micro-display 37 to allow light produced by the display to be emitted outward, and to allow the pinhole optic 43 to couple to the display (or to the enclosure 20 surrounding edges of the display). In one embodiment, the wall 44 of the pinhole optic may be composed of the same material as the enclosure. In one embodiment, the pinhole optic 43 may be a conical focusing optic, where Li and L2 may be diameters of the optic’s respective sides. As a result, the pinhole optic 43 may be circular, where at least one of the first and second ends may be circular (e.g., have a circular cross-section). In another embodiment, the pinhole optic may be any shape, such as a pyramid cone.

[0050] In one embodiment, the (e.g., first end of the) pinhole optic 43 may surround and / or enclose the micro-display 37, such that light produced by the micro-display may only be emitted into the inside of the wall 44 and out of the opening 39 of the pinhole optic 43. In which case, the pinhole optic may be sized such that it encompasses the micro-display. For example, when the micro-display is an LED display with several LEDs arranged within a 7- mm x 7-mm square, Li may be greater than 7-mm.

[0051] Also shown, at least a portion of the implant 13 is inside the lens 40 of the eye 18. In particular, the enclosure 20 of the implant 13 that includes circuitry and the micro-display 37 may be disposed inside the lens 40, while the pinhole optic 43 extends out of the lens and into the inside of the eye 18, towards the retina 41. As shown, the implant is at a distance, L3. In particular, L3 may represent the distance between the micro-display 37 and a portion of the retain, such as the macula 42. As described herein, the pinhole optic 43 may extend at least a portion of L3, from the implant 13 (e.g., micro-display) towards the retain 41. In one embodiment, the pinhole optic 43 may extend this distance within the lens 40, or through and outside the lens, as shown. More about the pinhole optic 43 is described herein.

[0052] As described herein, an advantage of the pinhole optic 43 (as opposed to a focusing optic) is that an image (e.g., light 46) produced by the micro-display 37 onto the retina 41 may always remain in focus regardless of a distance between the pinhole optic 43 and the (e.g., macula 42 of the) retain 41, and / or a distance between the micro-display 37 and the

[0053] (e.g., opening 39 of the) pinhole optic 43. In which case, characteristics of the implant 13 may be defined based on either (or both) of physical characteristics of the eye 18 (e.g., physical characteristics of an average of the general population), and focusing characteristics of the pinhole optic 43. One or more characteristics (geometries) of the implant may include the (e.g., opening 39 of the) pinhole optic 43 in space, pinhole diameter (e.g., L2), pinhole optic distance from the micro-display (e.g., focal length), pinhole distance from the retain 41, micro-display pixel size, micro-display pixel brightness, micro-display pixel lamination directivity and conical angle, etc. For example, the size of the micro-display 37 may be limited so as to fit within a lens capsule, which may be 10 mm in diameter. As a result, the micro-display may be defined as a 7-mm x 7-mm square, so as to fit within the lens capsule. In which case, the micro-display may include a resolution of 700 x 700 pixels, having a pitch of pixels of approximately 10 micrometers (pm). In another embodiment, the micro-display may include different resolution and / or pitch.

[0054] Characteristics of the pinhole optic 43 may be based on a desired angle of view, 0, that allows light 46 produced by the micro-display 37 to be presented onto a portion of the retina 41. As described herein, the image produced by the micro-display 37 will stay in focus on the retina 41, regardless of the position of the pinhole optic 43. As a focal length of the pinhole optic 43, which may be a distance between the micro-display 37 and the opening 39 of the pinhole optic 43 changes, 0 changes, such as increasing as the opening moves closer to the micro-display. In one embodiment, the focal length of the pinhole optic may be defined such that the resulting 0 may allow the light 46 to be projected onto at least a portion of the retain 41. In this example, 0 includes the macula 42. In this example, the opening of the pinhole optic may be located at a distance that is halfway between the micro-display and the retina 41 of the eye when the implant is inside the eye (e.g., being L3 / 2). For example, when

[0055] L3 is 17 mm, and the macula 42 is above 5.5 mm in size, the opening of the pinhole optic 43 may be placed midway between the micro-display and the retain, at approximately 8.5 mm from the micro-display.

[0056] As shown, the (opening 39 of the) pinhole optic 43 may be aligned with a center axis (not shown) of the micro-display. For instance, in the case in which the LED is a square, the pinhole optic 43 may be centered with the square. In another embodiment, the pinhole optic 43 may be positioned differently in space with respect to the micro-display.

[0057] In one embodiment, L2 may be defined so as to provide optimum resolution upon the retain 41. For example, L2 may be between 75 - 150 m. In another embodiment, the characteristics of the pinhole optic 43 may be based on other characteristics, such as the size of the micro-display and the position of the pinhole optic. Continuing with the previous example, when the micro-display is a LED display having 700 x 700 resolution, and the opening 39 of the pinhole optic 43 being at the midway point, L2 may be (approximately) 107 pm. In one embodiment, the divergence angle of light rays coming out of the pinhole optic 43 from the LED display may be a low value, such as 0.7°. In another embodiment, the light rays may not have a divergence angle from the pinhole optic (e.g., having an angle as close or equal to 0°).

[0058] An inner surface of the wall 44, which may be inside (and facing an interior) of the pinhole optic 43 may include light-absorbing material 45. This material 45 may cover the entire inner surface of the wall, or may cover at least a portion of the inner surface. Thus, the light- absorbing material 45 may have a similar form as the pinhole optic 43, which in this case may have a conical shape. The material may be a coating (or covering) that may be designed to absorb light, such as a vantablack (e.g., super-black) coating. In another embodiment, the material 45 may be any type of material that may reduce or eliminate reflections of light, thereby absorbing the light produced by the micro-display 37. In addition, the material 45 may absorb light rays that may pass through the opening 39 of the pinhole optic 43 and into the inside of the pinhole optic. Thus, the material may reduce or eliminate adverse optical effects that may occur from parasitic light reflections passing through the pinhole optic 43. In particular, the light-absorbing material 45 may reduce the amount of parasitic reflections.

[0059] Since images produced by the implant 13 may remain in focus due to the pinhole optic 43, the images produced by the implant may be adjusted (e.g., by the control electronics 35). For instance, when the implant 13 is inserted into the eye 18, the implant may be misaligned with respect to the retain 41. As a result, 0 may be misaligned with respect to the macula 42. As a result, the control electronics 35 may be configured to adjust a size of the image produced by the micro-display 37 that is projected onto the retain. Other image characteristics that may be adjusted may include an adjustment to small degrees of magnification and minification on the retain 41. Also, the images displayed on the microdisplay may be scaled for coarser correction.

[0060] In one embodiment, the one or more characteristics of the implant may be defined to optimize optical throughput of the micro-display through the pinhole optic 43. Continuing with the previous example, the micro-display may be a 7-mm x 7-mm micro-display with a pitch of pixels of 10 pm. A typical LED may include a full width at half maximum (FWHM) divergence of 60°. In which case, when the LEDs of the micro-display include such a FWHM, this would mean that for a pinhole optic 43 with an opening 39 (e.g., L2) of approximately 107 m, that approximately 0.01% of the light 46 produced by the microdisplay would be transmitted through the pinhole optic 43 (e.g., through the opening 39). In which case, to ensure that 0. 1 milliwatts (mW) of optical power produced by the microdisplay 37 is projected on the retina 41, the implant would need 1 watt (W) of optical power.

[0061] In one embodiment, one or more characteristics of the implant may be improved (or set) such that the optical power produced by the micro-display 37 is as close to (or the same) as the optical power incident on the retina. In one embodiment, to improve throughput, the LEDs of the micro-display may include a lower FWHM, such as a FWHM divergence of 44°. Such a divergence may nearly double the throughput of the implant. In one embodiment, the FWHM divergence may be reduced to a particular value such that the optical power produced by the display may be equal to the power incident on the retina. In some embodiments, brightness of one or more edge LEDs may be increased appropriately in order to avoid vignetting. As a result, in the case in which the LEDs are arranged in a square, one LED that may be adjacent to (or at) an edge of the square may produce light at a higher brightness than a brightness of light produced by another LED that is further away from the edge (e.g., more towards the middle of the square).

[0062] As described herein, the implant 13 may be sized so as to fit within the lens 40 of the eye 18. In this example, the micro-display 37 and other components of the implant that are housed by the enclosure 20 may be inside the lens 40, while at least a portion of the wall 44 of the pinhole optic 43 may be inside (or extend into) the vitreous chamber (body). In another embodiment, the components of the implant 13 may all be inside the lens 40. In another example, one or more components of the implant 13 may be housed within the lens 40, while other components, such as the pinhole optic 43 may be inside the vitreous chamber. Such an example is shown in Fig. 5.

[0063] For instance, Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the eye 18 that includes the intraocular implant 13 separate from the pinhole optic 43. In which case, both components may be inserted separately into the eye, where the implant 13 that includes the micro-display 37 may be inserted into the lens 40 and the pinhole optic 43 may be inserted into the vitreous chamber. By inserting them separately, this may minimize the size of incisions into the eye

[0064] 18. In another embodiment, both components may be inserted separately into the lens 40. The pinhole optic 43 may be a structure that includes the wall 44 and the opening 39 into the wall 44, where the opening 39 allows the light 46 produced by the micro-display 37 to pass through the wall and focuses the light 46 onto at least a portion of the retain 41 (e.g., the macula 42). In one embodiment, the pinhole optic 43 may be structurally designed to prevent (or block) direct light produced by the micro-display 37 from reaching the retina, other than the light that passes through the opening 39. In particular, the wall 44 may be dimensioned similarly as the micro-display. For example, when the micro-display 37 is a 7- mm x 7-mm array of LEDs, the wall 44 of the pinhole optic 43 may be a structure, such as a cubic structure, with a 7-mm x 7-mm side that faces the micro-display 37. As a result, in this example, the wall 44 of the pinhole optic 43 may cubic shaped having a height and length of 7-mm, where the opening 39 may be disposed in the center of the wall 44. In another embodiment, the pinhole optic 43 may have any shape, such that the wall 44 blocks all direct light (other than light that passes through the opening 39) produced by the micro-display 37.

[0065] Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the eye that includes an intraocular implant 13 with the micro-display 37, which is curved. In particular, this figure illustrates that instead of being a flat display, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the micro-display is a curved display that curves away from the pinhole optic 43 having an arch angle with respect to the optic 43. Such a curved display may include (employ) narrower LEDs in order to increase throughput. For example, the curvature could be such that the divergence of the LEDs may decrease to approximately 20° FWHM, and as a result the throughput of optical power may increase to over 0.1%.

[0066] Fig. 7 shows several stages in which the pinhole optic 43 may be coupled to the intraocular implant 13 via one or more wires 72, and the optic may be positioned at a desired pinhole location 73 when heat is applied to the wires. In particular, the wires are arranged to extend the pinhole optic to a distance from the display responsive to applied heat. In particular, this figure shows two stages 70 and 71 that show the implant 13 with the microdisplay 37 inserted into the lens 40 of the eye 18. Coupled to the implant 13 is the pinhole optic 43 via one or more wires 72. In particular, the optic may be coupled to the (e.g., enclosure 20 of the) implant 13 via four wires. Each of the wires may be coupled to (or coupled adjacent to) a portion of the implant, such as a respective comer of the implant 13, and coupled to a portion of the wall 44 of the pinhole optic 43. In this case, the wires 72 are extending out of the lens 40 and into the vitreous chamber in which the pinhole optic 43 is located.

[0067] In one embodiment, the wires 72 may be metal wires that may be flexible and bendable. Such wires may be designed to change one or more characteristics when heat is applied. For example, the wires may change shape, such as straightening from a non-straight or curved shape when heat is applied. In one embodiment, the wires may be nickel titanium (nitinol) memory wire.

[0068] The first stage 70 shows the implant 13 when it is inserted into the eye 18 of the user. In particular, the micro-display 37 is inserted into the lens 40, and the wires, which are designed to straighten responsive to applied heat are bent. As a result of being bent, the pinhole optic 43 is not positioned at a pinhole location 73 within the eye 18. In one embodiment, the pinhole location 73 may be a desired location within the eye at which the opening 39 of the pinhole optic 43 may optimally focus images produced by the microdisplay 37 onto the retain 41 of the eye. In another embodiment, the pinhole location 73 may be a location inside the eye at which the pinhole optic 43 is to be positioned in order to provide an optimal focusing location.

[0069] The second stage 71 shows that the pinhole optic 43 has been positioned at (or near) the pinhole location 73 responsive to heat being applied to at least one of the wires 72.

[0070] Specifically, responsive to an applied heat, the wires 72 have been straightened from their bent configuration in the first stage 70, resulting in the opening 39 of the pinhole optic 43 being positioned at the desired location, being the pinhole location 73.

[0071] As previously explained, an embodiment of the disclosure may be a non-transitory machine-readable medium (such as microelectronic memory) having stored thereon instructions, which program one or more data processing components (generically referred to here as a “processor”) to perform operations, such as the (image) signal processing operations, network operations, optical data transmission operations, and optical power transmission operations, as described herein. In other embodiments, some of these operations might be performed by specific hardware components that contain hardwired logic. Those operations might alternatively be performed by any combination of programmed data processing components and fixed hardwired circuit components.

[0072] While certain embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad disclosure, and that the disclosure is not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.

[0073] To aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

[0074] In some embodiments, this disclosure may include the language, for example, “at least one of [element A] and [element B].” This language may refer to one or more of the elements. For example, “at least one of A and B” may refer to “A,” “B,” or “A and

[0075] B.” Specifically, “at least one of A and B” may refer to “at least one of A and at least one of B,” or “at least of either A or B.” In some embodiments, this disclosure may include the language, for example, “[element A], [element B], and / or [element C].” This language may refer to either of the elements or any combination thereof. For instance, “A, B, and / or C” may refer to “A,” “B,” “C,” “A and B,” “A and C,” “B and C,” or “A, B, and C.”

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An intraocular implant comprising: a micro-display orientated to present image data onto a retina of an eye of a user when the intraocular implant is inside the eye; and a pinhole optic that is arranged to focus the image data presented by the micro-display onto the retina when the implant is inside the eye.

2. The intraocular implant of claim 1, wherein the pinhole optic comprises: a wall that is in a shape of a cone that surrounds the micro-display and is coupled to the intraocular implant at a first end; and an opening at a second end of the wall that is opposite to the first end.

3. The intraocular implant of claim 2, wherein an inner surface of the wall comprises a light-absorbing material.

4. The intraocular implant of claim I , wherein the micro-display is a curved display.

5. The intraocular implant of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of wires that couple the pinhole optic to the intraocular implant.

6. The intraocular implant of claim 5, wherein the plurality of wires are flexible wires that are arranged to extend the pinhole optic to a distance from the micro-display responsive to an applied heat.

7. The intraocular implant of claim 1, wherein the pinhole optic is disposed at a distance that is halfway between the micro-display and at least a portion of the retina of the eye when the implant is inside the eye.

8. The intraocular implant of claim 1, wherein an opening of the pinhole optic has a diameter between 75 - 150 micrometers.

9. The intraocular implant of claim 1, wherein the micro-display comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), each comprising a full width at half maximum (FWHM) divergence of 44°.

10. The intraocular implant of claim 9, wherein the plurality of LEDs are arranged within a 7 -millimeter (mm) x 7-mm square, wherein a first LED that is adjacent to an edge of the square produces light at a higher brightness than a brightness of light produced by a second LED that is further away from the edge.

11. The intraocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the pinhole optic comprises: a wall that has a size that is at least the same as a size of the micro-display; and an opening that is at a center of the wall and that allows light produced by the microdisplay to pass through the wall and towards the retina.

12. An intraocular system comprising: an intraocular implant that comprises a micro-display that is arranged to present images onto a retina of an eye when the intraocular implant is inside the eye; and a pinhole optic that is arranged to focus the images presented by the micro-display onto the retina.

13. The intraocular system of claim 12, wherein the pinhole optic is separate from the intraocular implant, and wherein the intraocular implant and the pinhole optic are separately inserted into the eye.

14. The intraocular system of claim 12, wherein the intraocular implant further comprises a cone that is coupled to the micro-display at a first end and is coupled to the pinhole optic at a second end that is opposite to the first end, wherein the cone tapers from the first end to the second end.

15. The intraocular system of claim 14, wherein an inner surface of the cone comprises a light-absorbing material.

16. The intraocular system of claim 12, wherein the micro-display is a curved display.

17. The intraocular system of claim 12, wherein the intraocular implant further comprises a plurality of wires that couple the pinhole optic to the micro-display.

18. The intraocular system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of wires are flexible wires that are arranged to extend the pinhole optic to a distance from the micro-display responsive to an applied heat.

19. The intraocular system of claim 12, wherein the pinhole optic is disposed at a distance that is halfway between the micro-display and at least a portion of the retina of the eye when the implant is inside the eye.

20. The intraocular system of claim 12, wherein an opening of the pinhole optic has a diameter between 75 - 150 micrometers.

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