Retinal Prosthesis Penetrating Electrodes and Non-Visible Light Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current retinal prostheses face challenges in effectively stimulating retinal tissue to restore vision in individuals with retinal-related blindness, particularly in achieving sufficient and focused electrical contact with retinal layers for enhanced image resolution.
Innovation Solution
The development of an intraocular device with penetrating electrodes that protrude from a support substrate, featuring rough surfaces and perforations to directly contact the bipolar cell layer, combined with an external device emitting non-visible light for energy reception and modulation, allowing for precise electrical stimulation of the retina.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If penetrating electrodes with rough surfaces and perforations are used to directly contact retinal tissue, then retinal stimulation effectiveness and image resolution are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrodes incorporate perforations and rough surfaces that create porous structures, allowing neuronal processes to penetrate and contact the electrode surfaces directly. This increases the effective contact area and stimulation effectiveness while maintaining manageable device complexity through standardized porous material fabrication techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode surfaces are selectively roughened and perforated only in specific regions where neuronal contact is needed, while other regions maintain smooth surfaces for structural integrity and attachment. This localized application of complex features improves retinal stimulation without uniformly increasing device complexity throughout the entire electrode structure.
2Reliability
If an external power source emitting non-visible light is used to power the intraocular device, then energy supply reliability is improved, but potential harmful effects from light exposure to the eye increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces visible light-based optical imaging with non-visible light (infrared or ultraviolet) for power transmission. This substitution allows energy delivery without interfering with the visual spectrum, eliminating harmful visible light exposure while maintaining reliable wireless power supply to the intraocular device.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-visible light acts as an intermediary carrier for energy transmission between the external power source and the intraocular device. By using a wavelength outside the visible range as the mediator, the system achieves reliable power transfer without the harmful effects associated with visible light exposure to the retina and other ocular structures.
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 solution enhances retinal stimulation, improving image resolution and cell-electrode coupling, enabling more effective restoration of vision by directly driving electrical charges into the bipolar cell layer and promoting neuronal processes interaction.
Implementation Method 1
an energy receiver configured to: receive light emitted from the external non-visible light source, and extract energy from the emitted light for powering the intraocular device
Data Source
AI summary
An external device is provided for use with an intraocular device configured to be implanted entirely in an eye of a subject. The external device includes a mount configured to be placed in front of the eye and a sensor coupled to the mount and configured to sense a level of ambient light. The external device additionally includes an external power source coupled to the mount and configured to (i) emit toward the eye non-visible light that is outside of 380-750 nm, and (ii) modulate the non-visible light based on the level of ambient light sensed by the sensor. Other application are also described.