166 results about "Retinal cell" patented technology

In one aspect, the invention provides vision prosthesis systems. Exemplary vision prosthesis systems of the invention comprise a light energy generator operably connected to a wearable head piece comprising a device for directing light energy produced by the light energy generator onto a mammalian retina, wherein the light energy generator is tuned to emit light energy of sufficient power to modulate neural activity in the retina. In another aspect, the invention provides methods for irradiating neurons in the retina of the mammalian eye by directing light energy produced by a light energy generator onto a mammalian retina. The methods of the invention may be used to directly modulate the activity of retinal neurons or to introduce molecules into retinal cells.

Disclosed is a system and method for treatment of cells and, in particular, visual pathway disorders. More particularly, the disclosed invention is directed toward the photomodulation and / or photorejuvenation of retinal epithelial cells, to treat a variety of vision disorders. The process of treating retinal cells to reduce or reverse the effects of visual pathway disorders employs a narrowband source of multichromatic light applied to the retinal cells to deliver a very low energy fluence.

In one aspect, the invention provides vision prosthesis systems. Exemplary vision prosthesis systems of the invention comprise a light energy generator operably connected to a wearable head piece comprising a device for directing light energy produced by the light energy generator onto a mammalian retina, wherein the light energy generator is tuned to emit light energy of sufficient power to modulate neural activity in the retina. In another aspect, the invention provides methods for irradiating neurons in the retina of the mammalian eye by directing light energy produced by a light energy generator onto a mammalian retina. The methods of the invention may be used to directly modulate the activity of retinal neurons or to introduce molecules into retinal cells.

The objective of the current invention is to restore color vision, in whole or in part, by electrically stimulating undamaged retinal cells, which remain in patients with, lost or degraded visual function. The invention is a retinal color prosthesis. Functionally, There are three main parts to this invention. One is external to the eye. The second part is internal to the eye. The third part is means for communication between those two parts. The external part has subsystems. These include an external imaging means, an eye-tracker, a head-motion tracker, a data processor, a patient's controller, a physician's local controller, a physician's remote controller, and a telemetry means. The imaging means may include a CCD or CMOS video camera. It gathers an image of what the eyes would be seeing if they were functional.Color information is acquired by the imaging means. The color data is processed in the video data processing unit. The color information is encoded by time sequences of pulses separated by varying amounts of time, and also with the pulse duration being varied in time. The basis for the color encoding is the individual color code reference. Direct color stimulation is another operational basis for providing color perception. The electrodes stimulate the target cells so as to create a color image for the patient, corresponding to the original image as seen by the video camera, or other imaging means.The physician's test unit can be used to set up or evaluate and test the implant during or soon after implantation at the patient's bedside.

A cell culture system related to extended in vitro culture of mature retinal cells and methods for preparing the cell culture system are provided. Also provided is a retinal cell culture stress model related to extended in vitro culture of mature retinal cells in the presence of a stressor and methods for using the cell culture stress model. The invention provides a cell culture system comprising a long-term culture of mature retinal cells, without requiring addition of other types of non-retinal cells such as purified glia, or cells isolated from ciliary bodies within the eye, and the addition of a stressor such as light, A2E, cigarette smoke condensate, glutamate, or hydrostatic pressure. Methods for identifying bioactive agents that alter viability, neurodegeneration, or survival of retinal cells using the retinal cell culture stress system are also provided.

Disclosed is a system for maintaining normal health of photoreceptor cells and promoting regeneration of photoreceptor cells, and methods thereof. The system comprises: an implant capable of being implanted in a region in proximity to retina of an eye; and an electrical stimulation unit disposed in a region around the eye. The electrical stimulation unit induces an electrical current in the implant for electrical stimulation of the retina of the eye, thereby maintaining normal health of photoreceptor cells and promoting regeneration of photoreceptor cells in the retina.

An implantation device having a reservoir for holding a solid or semisolid implant and a carrier fluid, wherein the reservoir includes a cannula. The cannula has a tip end and a delivery opening therein both shaped and dimensioned to suit the application. For example, an implant (such as a retinal cell graft) and suitable carrier fluid (such as an aqueous hyaluronic acid solution) can be expressed from the opening into the subretinal space of a recipient eye, provided the cannula is of sufficient length that the tip end can reach the subretinal space while the remainder of the fluid reservoir is external of the eye. Expression of the carrier fluid from the reservoir via the delivery opening expels the implant through the delivery opening. An electromechanically driven plunger apparatus with operator controls is provided in a preferred embodiment.

Provided herein are variant adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid proteins having one or more modifications in amino acid sequence relative to a parental AAV capsid protein, which, when present in an AAV virion, confer increased infectivity of one or more types of retinal cells as compared to the infectivity of the retinal cells by an AA V virion comprising the unmodified parental capsid protein. Also provided are recombinant AAV virions and pharmaceutical compositions thereof comprising a variant AAV capsid protein as described herein, methods of making these rAAV capsid proteins and virions, and methods for using these rAAV capsid proteins and virions in research and in clinical practice, for example in, e.g., the delivery of nucleic acid sequences to one or more cells of the retina for the treatment of retinal disorders and diseases.

The invention relates to imparting photoreactivity to target cells, e.g., retinal cells, by introducing photoresponsive functional abiotic nanosystems (FANs), nanometer-scale semiconductor / metal or semiconductor / semiconductor hetero-junctions that in this case include a photovoltaic effect. The invention further provides methods of making and using FANs, where the hetero-junctions bear surface functionalization that localizes them in cell membranes. Illumination of these hetero-junctions incorporated in cell membranes generates photovoltages that depolarize the membranes, such as those of nerve cells, in which FANs photogenerate action potentials. Incorporating FANs into the cells of a retina with damaged photoreceptor cells reintroduces photoresponsiveness to the retina, so that light creates action potentials that the brain interprets as sight.

The invention provides compositions and methods of treating subjects afflicted with a photoreceptor disorder. Methods for treating a subject suffering from a disorder characterized by photoreceptor cell degeneration are provided, wherein a gene encoding a photosensitive protein is introduced into a retinal cell of a subject. In one aspect of the invention, the retinal cells which receive the photosensitive protein include non-photoreceptor cells such as horizontal cells, amacrine cells, bipolar cells, and ganglion cells.

The invention can be characterized as method for stimulating or inhibiting gene expression by photomodulating living cells using a source of narrowband multichromatic electromagnetic radiation. The cells may include, among others, nerve cells, skin cells, retinal cells, heart cells, stem cells, brain cells, cells found in human organs, cells found in hair follicles, and cells found in the human eye or retina. Photomodulation may be enhanced using topically or orally administered compositions. The source of narrowband multichromatic electromagnetic radiation may include at least one light emitting diode (LED) that can emit radiation having a wavelength of from about 300 nm to about 1600 nm.

Oxidative damage contributes to cone cell death in retinitis pigmentosa and death of rods, cones, and retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells in ocular oxidative stress related diseases including age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. Oral antioxidants may provide modest benefits, but more efficient ways of preventing oxidative damage are needed. Compositions and methods are provided herein for the prevention, amelioration, and / or treatment of early or late stage ocular disease by increasing the expression or activity of one or more peroxidases in cells of the eye, particularly retinal cells, and further optionally increasing the expression or activity of one or more superoxide dismuatases in the same cells.

A portable retinal imaging device for imaging the fundus of the eye. The device includes an ocular imaging device containing ocular lensing and filters, a fixation display, and a light source, and is configured for coupling to a mobile device containing a camera, display, and application programming for controlling retinal imaging. The light source is configured for generating a sustained low intensity light (e.g., IR wavelength) during preview, followed by a light flash during image capture. The ocular imaging device works in concert with application programming on the mobile device to control subject gaze through using a fixation target when capturing retinal imaging on the mobile device, which are then stitched together using imaging processing into an image having a larger field of view.

A method is disclosed including: receiving raw image data corresponding to a series of raw images; processing the raw image data with an encoder to generate encoded data, where the encoder is characterized by an input / output transformation that substantially mimics the input / output transformation of one or more retinal cells of a vertebrate retina; and applying a first machine vision algorithm to data generated based at least in part on the encoded data.

Described herein are methods and compositions for genomic editing. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic (CRISPR) allows for highly selective targeting and alteration of genetic loci. Here, the Inventors demonstrate CRISPR as capable of being used in living animals to prophylactically prevent a genetic disease from manifesting. Targeting and disruption of mutated rhodopsin gene prevents progression of retinitis pigmentosa in the retinal cells of a transgenic rat model. Such techniques allow for treatment methods in subjects with dominant genetic mutations, often associated with lack of a gene product, or a toxic gene product. The described technology effectively abrogates deleterious effects due to the presence of a mutated gene copy allowing the normal function of the wild-type protein to prevent cell and vision loss. The efficacy of these in vivo mechanisms are widely extensible to similar dominant negative gene mutations causing disease, or other types of genetic disease.

The invention provides methods for treating ocular diseases using a recombinant vehicle to express a protein useful in the treatment of ocular disease, with particular preference for use of neurotrophin-4 (NT4) for targeting subpopulations of cells in the retina. A genetically engineered gene transfer vector containing sequences encoding a growth factor such as neurotrophin-4 (NT4) is used to transduce cells of the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer, in situ, via administration of the vector intravitreally. Accordingly, methods are disclosed for treating subjects in need thereof by therapeutic protein delivery via a recombinant expression vector, including rescue of photoreceptors by targeting the RGC layer subpopulation of retinal cells.

A method for repairing a retinal system of an eye, using bucky paper on which a plurality of retina pigment epithelial cells and / or iris pigment epithelial cells and / or stem cells is deposited, either randomly or in a selected cell pattern. The cell-covered bucky paper is positioned in a sub-retinal space to transfer cells to this space and thereby restore the retina to its normal functioning, where retinal damage or degeneration, such as macular degeneration, has occurred.

Drug delivery systems suitable for administration into the interior of an eye of a person or animal are described. The present systems include one or more components which are effective in improving a release profile of a drug from the system, improving the stability of the drug, and improving the ocular tolerability of the drug. The present systems include one or more therapeutic agents in amounts effective in providing a desired therapeutic effect when placed in an eye, and an excipient component with reduced toxicity to retinal cells. The excipient component may include a cyclodextrin component that may be complexed with the therapeutic agents to provide advantages over existing intraocular drug delivery systems. The cyclodextrin component of the present systems have a reduced toxicity relative to benzyl alcohol or polysorbate 80. The drug delivery systems include one or more drug delivery elements such as microparticles, bioerodible implants, non-bioerodible implants, and combinations thereof. Methods of using and producing the drug delivery systems are also described.

The invention relates to stem cells isolated from the retina of mammals and retinal cells differentiated from these stem cells. The invention also relates to a method of isolating retinal stem cells and inducing retinal stem cells to produce retinal cells. Retinal stem cells may also be induced in vivo to produce retinal cells. The invention also includes pharmaceuticals made with retinal stem cells or retinal cells which may be used to restore vision lost due to diseases, disorders or abnormal physical states of the retina. The invention includes retinal stem cell and retinal cell culture systems for toxicological assays, for isolating genes involved in retinal differentiation or for developing tumour cell lines.

Provided are cell compositions including non-retinal cell types that have been reprogrammed to form retinal stem cells, and methods for producing and using same. Such reprogrammed cells can be used to replace one or more retinal cell types that have been lost due to damage and / or disease and are thus useful in treating or preventing visual impairment.

The invention discloses an adaptive optics technology based living human eye retinal cell microscope, which comprises an observation optical system, an illuminating optical system, an aberration correction micromechanical deformation mirror, a retinal cell image post-processing module, a deformation mirror correction control model and an image post-processing module, wherein the deformation mirror correction control model is used for proposing a wavefront correction arithmetic based on singular value decomposition and Smith control, and optimally the correction property of a system on spatialdomain and time domain, and the image post-processing module is used for carrying out iterative restoring according to a point spread function constructed by human eye residual aberration, a consistency measurement function of a resorting problem and a cost punishment function of prior information so as to obtain a target image, and thus, the observation and the diagnosis of doctors are convenient.

Disclosed is a composition for inducing the proliferation of retinal cells or the differentiation of retinal progenitor cells into retinal cells. The composition, similar to in vivo conditions for development during embryogenesis, induces stem cells to differentiate into a multitude of photoreceptor cells at high yield within a short period of time, without an additional gene transfer. In addition, the differentiated photoreceptor cells are useful in cellular therapy because they, when transplanted into degenerated or injured retinas, can be engrafted and fused within the retinas to prevent or cure retinal degeneration.

Methods and compositions useful for neuronal protection in retinal cells in vitro and the protection of mammalian cells from reactive oxygen species in vivo are provided. Ultrafine nano-size cerium oxide particles, less than 10 nanometers in diameter, have been provided to decrease reactive oxygen species (ROS) in retina tissue that generates large amounts of ROS. These reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in light-induced retina degeneration and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Cerium oxide nanoparticles have been used to promote the lifespan of retinal neurons and protect the neurons from apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide in vitro and in vivo. The neuronal protection in retinal cells is achieved by decreasing generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, cerium oxide particles are used to promote the longevity of retinal neurons in vitro and mammalian cells in vivo.

The invention discloses an automatic cutting and counting method for fluorescent microscopic images of retinal cells. The method comprises the following steps: (a) preprocessing, wherein the images are preprocessed and noise points in the images are filtered away; (b) boundary encoding, wherein profiles of the cells are extracted and the extracted profiles are encoded; (c) concave point detection, wherein concave points in the profiles are found and marked; (d) cutting, wherein adherent cells are cut. The method combines a conventional algorithm and various algorithms proposed in modern time, and retains the advantages of simplicity for calculation, low calculation cost and high running efficiency in threshold filtration and edge detection algorithms. At the same time, the method combines Freeman chain code and polygonal concavity and convexity methods, better cuts the adherent cells and enables a cutting result to have relatively good accuracy and relatively high efficiency.

The invention discloses a retinal cell microscopic image segmentation and counting method. The method is characterized by comprising the following steps: firstly, preprocessing images; secondly, performing shape classification on cell communication regions by using an AdaBoost classifier, and judging whether the segmentation needs to be carried out or not; thirdly, performing bottleneck point detection on cells and connecting segmentation points by using an accelerative Dijkstra algorithm to finish the segmentation; and finally, putting new cell communication regions obtained by segmentation into the AdaBoost classifier again to perform shape classification, and judging whether the segmentation needs to continue to be carried out or not. The method has the beneficial effects that by utilizing the advantages of small calculation amount, simple calculation, high running efficiency and the like in threshold filtering and digital morphology operations, and in combination with cell shape classification and edge profile bottleneck point detection methods and the accelerative Dijkstra algorithm, the overlapped adherent cells are segmented; an obtained result has relatively high accuracy; and the method has relatively high running efficiency.

Surgical instruments, surgical techniques, retinal cell grafts, retinal cell and tissue isolation techniques, and a method for transplanting retinal cells, including photoreceptors, and / or retinal pigment epithelium, with the cells in the isolated tissue having their normal cell to cell configuration are disclosed.