Infrared Nerve-Stimulation Visual Prosthetic for Retinal Degeneration
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for restoring vision in patients with retinal degenerative diseases like advanced macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa are limited by the lack of spatial selectivity in electrical stimulation, which restricts the number of stimulation sites and requires physical contact with sensitive neural tissue, leading to potential damage and the need for risky surgeries.
Innovation Solution
The use of infrared nerve-stimulation technology that employs pulsed infrared lasers to stimulate retinal nerves without tissue contact, allowing for high spatial selectivity and potentially thousands of stimulation channels, eliminating the need for a powered implant within the eye and enabling easier upgrades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrical stimulation is used to restore vision, then nerve stimulation can be achieved, but spatial selectivity is limited and tissue damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical stimulation with optical stimulation using infrared light. Instead of using electrical fields that spread through tissue and cause damage, the invention uses photons to directly stimulate retinal ganglion cells, achieving precise spatial selectivity without the harmful effects of electrical current spread and tissue heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of stimulation from electrical to optical. By using infrared light at specific wavelengths (1300-1600 nm), the system achieves nerve stimulation through a different physical mechanism that avoids the limitations of electrical stimulation, including spatial spread and tissue damage.
2Quantity of substance
If electrical stimulation is used, then vision restoration is possible, but the number of stimulation sites is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
By substituting electrical stimulation with optical stimulation using infrared light, the system can address individual retinal ganglion cells with high spatial precision. This enables thousands of independently controllable stimulation sites, far exceeding the capacity of electrical stimulation systems which are limited by current spread.
3Reliability
If physical contact with neural tissue is made for stimulation, then nerve activation is achieved, but risky surgeries are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses infrared light as an intermediary to stimulate retinal ganglion cells without requiring direct physical contact or implantation of electrodes into the neural tissue. A wearable device projects infrared light through the eye, and the light is focused by the eye's natural optics onto the retina, eliminating the need for risky surgical implantation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/electrical interface (electrodes contacting tissue) with an optical interface (infrared light passing through the eye). This substitution eliminates the need for surgical implantation of powered devices into the eye, significantly reducing surgical risk while maintaining effective nerve stimulation.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If a powered implant is placed within the eye, then continuous stimulation is possible, but device complexity and surgical risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses infrared light as an intermediary energy transmission medium. Instead of implanting a powered device, the system transmits energy wirelessly through infrared light that passes through the eye and focuses on the retina. The light acts as a carrier that delivers stimulation energy without requiring physical implantation of power sources or control electronics.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the implanted powered electronic system with an external optical system. Infrared light replaces electrical wires and implanted power sources, delivering continuous stimulation capability through non-invasive optical transmission, thereby eliminating the complexity and surgical risks associated with implanted powered devices.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly increases the number of stimulation sites, reduces tissue damage, and allows for more precise nerve stimulation, potentially restoring vision with fewer surgical risks and improved long-term biocompatibility.
Implementation Method 1
infrared nerve-stimulation technology that employs pulsed infrared lasers to stimulate retinal nerves
Data Source
AI summary
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.