91 results about "Visual prosthesis" patented technology

The present invention is a non-destructive method of inspecting a bond, particularly a braze bond, in a hermetic package. The invention involves a unique hermetic package design adapted for ultrasonic inspection and a method of inspecting the package. This package and non-destructive inspection process are particularly useful in implantable neural stimulators such as visual prostheses.

A sensory substitution device according to an embodiment of the invention includes a thermal imaging array for sensing thermal characteristics of an external scene. The device includes a visual prosthesis adapted to receive input based on the scene sensed by the thermal imaging array and to convey information based on the scene to a user of the sensing device. The visual prosthesis is adapted to simultaneously convey to the user different visual information corresponding to portions of the scene having different thermal characteristics. One type of thermal imaging array includes a microbolometer imaging array, and one type of visual prosthesis includes a retinal implant. According to additional embodiments, an apparatus for obtaining thermal data includes a thermal detector adapted to sense thermal characteristics of an environment using a plurality of pixels. The apparatus also includes a pixel translator, operably coupled with the thermal detector, adapted to translate pixel data of the thermal detector to a lower resolution. The apparatus also includes an interface, operably coupled with the pixel translator, adapted to communicate the thermal characteristics of the environment to a user of the apparatus at a lower resolution than sensed by the thermal detector.

The invention is a method of automatically adjusting an electrode array to the neural characteristics of an individual patient. The perceptual response to electrical neural stimulation varies from patient to patient and The response to electrical neural stimulation varies from patient to patient and the relationship between current and perceived brightness is often non-linear. It is necessary to determine this relationship to fit the prosthesis settings for each patient. It is advantageous to map the perceptual responses to stimuli. The method of mapping of the present invention is to provide a plurality of stimuli that vary in current, voltage, pulse duration, frequency, or some other dimension; measuring and recording the response to those stimuli; deriving a formula or equation describing the map from the individual points; storing the formula; and using that formula to map future stimulation.

The invention described herein comprises an electronic retinal prosthesis for the treatment of some forms of blindness in animals (humans inclusive) wherein surviving retinal neurons of an intact, damaged, or diseased retina, may be physiologically activated by way of electrical stimulation delivered from electrodes placed in biologically sustainable positions so as to produce the perception of light in said animal.

The present invention is a system for detecting, tracking and recognizing human faces in a visual prosthesis. In a visual prosthesis, the input camera is always higher resolution than the electrode array providing percepts to the subject. It is advantageous to detect, track and recognize human faces. Then information can be provided to the subject by highlighting the face in the visual scene, providing auditor or vibratory notice that a human face is in the visual scene, looking up the face in a database to state the name of the person in the visual scene, otherwise communication id like providing a custom vibratory pattern corresponding to known individuals (like custom ring tones associated with caller ID) or automatically zooming in on a face to aid the subject in identifying the face.

A prosthesis for viewing an object includes a CMOS camera that is mounted on an eye lens of a patient to create a visual image. A process controller then creates an encoded signal of the visual image that has specific intensity and position information for respective pixels. Next, this encoded signal is transmitted to a stimulating unit implanted in the cranium, where it is decoded to create an electrical stimulation signal in accordance with a predetermined data protocol. The electrical stimulation signal is then passed to an electrode array that is coupled to an optic nerve of the patient, to thereby generate phosphenes in the brain for a sensation of visual perception of the object.

A visual prosthesis apparatus including a video capture device for capturing a video image, a video processing unit associated with the video capture device, the video processing unit configured to convert the video image to stimulation patterns, and a stimulation system configured to stimulate subject's neural tissue based on the stimulation patterns, wherein the stimulation system provides a span of visual angle matched to the subject's neural tissue being stimulated.

The present invention is an improved method of stimulating visual neurons to create artificial vision. It has been found that varying current of visual stimulation can create varying percept brightness, varying percept size, and varying percept shape. By determining the attributes of predetermined current levels, and using those attributes to program a video processor, more accurate video preproduction can be obtained.The present invention also includes an electrode array having alternating large and small electrodes in rows at a 45 degree angle to horizontal in the visual field.

The present invention is an implantable electronic device formed within a biocompatible hermetic package. Preferably the implantable electronic device is used for a visual prosthesis for the restoration of sight in patients with lost or degraded visual function. The package may include a hard hermetic box, a thin film hermetic coating, or both.

The present invention is a method of improving the persistence of electrical neural stimulation, and specifically a method of improving the persistence of an image supplied to a retina, or visual cortex, through a visual prosthesis. A continuously stimulated retina, or other neural tissue, will desensitize after a time period in the range of 20 to 150 seconds. However, an interruption of the stimulation on the order of a few milliseconds will restore the retinal sensitivity without the user perceiving the interruption, or with the user barely perceiving the interruption.

The present invention is an electrode array for neural stimulation. In particular it is an electrode array for use with a visual prosthesis with the electrode array suitable to be positioned on the retina. The array includes multiple attachment points to provide for even pressure across the electrode array surface. The attachment points are arranged so as to not damage retinal tissue stimulated by the electrode array.

The invention discloses a visual prosthesis image acquisition device which comprises an eye movement acquiring and processing module, a camera and a rotating cradle head. The eye movement acquiring and processing module is used for acquiring an eye movement signal of an eyeball and sending a control signal according to the signal to control the rotation of the rotating cradle head so as to ensure the camera fixed on the rotating cradle head to turn to the rotation direction of the eyeball and acquire an image in the direction, wherein the eye movement acquiring and processing module comprises an eye movement camera for shooting a video of movement of a pupil of the eyeball and an eye movement video receiving and processing unit for receiving the video and acquiring the rotation direction of the eyeball by the video. According to the invention, by acquiring the rotation direction of the eyeball in real time so as to control the rotating cradle head to drive the camera to turn to the direct and acquire the image in the direction, the biomimetics on human vision and eye movement functions is well implemented, so that a user acquires the prosthesis visual experience closer to the normal vision.

In a visual prosthesis electrodes stimulate retinal tissue to induce the perception of light to a user implanted with the prosthesis. The prosthesis must have a return, or common, electrode to make a complete circuit with the retinal tissue. To avoid stimulating tissue with the return electrode, it is advantageous if the electrode is large.The invention involver a flexible circuit electrode array comprising a polymer base layer, metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces, and a return electrode separate from said stimulating electrodes.The flexible circuit electrode array comprises a secondary coil for receiving visual data; an electronics package electrically coupled to said receiving coil, and a plurality of stimulating electrode electrically coupled to said electronics package.

Stabilizing the visual system for any sighted mobile system increases immunity of the mobile system's gaze and reduces information processing task complexity. Two human reflexes are the optokinetic reflex and vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). The VOR stabilizes retinal images during head movement by producing eye movements in the opposite direction. Improved analysis of the VOR in humans would improve the diagnosis / treatment of patients, provide improvements in visual prosthesis performance for patients, and also vision systems performance for mobile robotic systems. However, an important issue for prior art mathematical analysis techniques is the requirement to classify the nystagmus segments before applying any analysis techniques, wherein this classification should be preferably performed non-subjectively. Accordingly the inventors overcome these limitations by performing classification, i.e. segmentation of the data record into multiple modes (including possible artifacts or outliers), and identification of mode dynamics concurrently and objectively in a manner suitable for multi-input systems.

The present invention is a visual prosthesis adapted for implantation in the brain, and more particularly with an electrode array adapted for implantation in the Calcarine Sulcus of the visual cortex. The electrode array of the invention has electrodes on each side and spaced appropriately for the Calcarine Sulcus and driven by an electronic circuit within a hermetic package small enough to be implanted with a skull.

The present invention is an electrode array for neural stimulation. In particular it is an electrode array for use with a visual prosthesis with the electrode array suitable to be positioned on the retina. The array includes multiple attachment points to provide for even pressure across the electrode array surface. The attachment points are arranged so as to not damage retinal tissue stimulated by the electrode array.

A wireless energy and data transmission system for visual prostheses in the technical field of biomedical engineering, including: an external wireless device located outside the body, an internal wireless device located inside the body, and a data reverse transmission module. The external wireless device receives encoded images After the signal is modulated, it is transmitted wirelessly to the wireless device in the body. The wireless device in the body rectifies and demodulates and receives the driving power and the received signal respectively. The data reverse transmission module monitors the impedance and temperature information in the body, and transmits the data to the external coil through the internal coil , the external reverse demodulation circuit recovers the impedance and temperature information, and the external device adjusts the input power according to the state in the body. The invention has the characteristics of simple circuit, small volume, high efficiency and the like.

The present invention is a method of stimulating visual neurons to create the perception of light. A visual prosthesis electrically stimulating the retina with implanted electrodes exhibits interaction between electrodes stimulated closely together in both space and time. The method of the present invention includes determining a minimum distance at which spatiotemporal interactions occur, determining a minimum time at which spatiotemporal interactions occur, and avoiding stimulation of electrodes within the minimum distance during the minimum time. The minimum are ideally established for each individual patient. Alternatively, approximate minimums have been established by the applicants at 2 mm and 1.8 μsec.

A visual prosthesis and methods of allowing a subject to view visual information from an artificial source are provided. The visual prosthesis has one or more electrodes operative to deliver electrical signals to a lateral geniculate nucleus of a mammal, a power supply operative to provide power to the electrodes, a visual information translator operatively connected to the electrode array, and a visual sensor operatively connected to the visual information translator. The visual prosthesis is operative to translate visual information into an electrical signal and transmit the electrical signal to electrodes to stimulate brain activity to recognize visual information.

The invention relates to a microcontact structure for epiretinal or cortical contacting of nerve tissue for a vision prosthesis in mammals or human beings. Due to the fact that the thickness of the surface of the microcontacts (2) is not constant along the surface of the microcontact structure, the resolution can be adapted to physiological requirements.

A method of providing artificial vision to a visually-impaired user implanted with a visual prosthesis. The method includes configuring, in response to selection information received from the user, a smart prosthesis to perform at least one function of a plurality of functions in order to facilitate performance of a visual task. The method further includes extracting, from an input image signal generated in response to optical input representative of a scene, item information relating to at least one item within the scene relevant to the visual task. The smart prosthesis then generates image data corresponding to an abstract representation of the scene wherein the abstract representation includes a representation of the at least one item. Pixel information based upon the image data is then provided to the visual prosthesis.

The present invention is an electrode array for neural stimulation suitable to be attached to neural tissue such that the attachment point acts as a fulcrum like point and contact with an end of the array body presses the other end of the array body into the neural tissue to be stimulated. This invention is particularly useful in a retinal electrode array for a visual prosthesis. By curving an electrode portion of an array body to approximate but not exceed (never more tightly curved) the curvature of the retina and applying force to the array by external means at the fulcrum like point, approximately even pressure across all electrodes is achieved.

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 AMD, RP, and other diseases. The 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 prosthesis that generates 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 the invention provides 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.

The present invention is a visual prosthesis for the restoration of sight in patients with lost or degraded visual function. The visual prosthesis includes means for sending operational data from an implantable visual prosthesis to an external unit. Such operational data may include electrode current, voltage or capacitance, power received by the internal unit, and recording of neural activity.

The invention discloses a binocular image acquisition and preprocessing device and a method used for a visual prosthesis. The device comprises left and right miniature cameras and an image preprocessing device. The left and right miniature cameras synchronously collect video information in real time and output the collected video information to the image preprocessing device for image fusion, significant target extraction and other preprocessing. And then, a position, a distance and contour information of a significant target are further calculated. In the scheme, on one hand, the left and right miniature cameras are used to collect the image, and the image preprocessing device preprocesses the image; through using an advantage of double cameras, a general orientation and distance information of the significant target in a visual field are calculated, and the above information is important for a blind person and is also ignored by other correlation patents; on the other hand, conversion and information transmission are performed on significant target information in the visual field, and secondary information is neglected so that a calculated amount of a subsequent image coding module can be greatly reduced, and an operation speed of the visual prosthesis is increased.

A touch-based simulated false-vision positioning system in the technical field of visual prostheses comprises a helmet display, an auxiliary head positioning device, a touch screen, a computer, a touch navigation device and a touch panel. Firstly, the helmet display which is used as a stimulating source provides simulated false vision stimulation; with the auxiliary head fixing device, the head of a user is fixed opposite to where the touch screen is fixed; simulated false-vision generating software with an appropriate stimulating mode is selected and facilitates the computer to produce simulated false vision; after judging the positions of simulated false visions in the helmet display, the user points out the localization on the touch screen with the help of the touch navigation device or the touch panel; after feedback data is processed with corresponding software, analysis and evaluation on information such as localization accuracy, dispersion, etc. of simulated false visions sensed by touch can be obtained.