Visual Prosthesis Coil Transmission for Retinal Stimulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current visual prosthetic devices are large, bulky, and unable to provide adequate simulated vision to effectively aid the visually impaired, particularly those with photoreceptor degenerative retinal diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.
Innovation Solution
A visual prosthesis apparatus comprising a video capture device, a video processing unit that converts video images into stimulation patterns, and a retinal stimulation system implanted in the eye to artificially stimulate neural tissue, allowing for the creation of artificial vision by powering on and off based on a power button activation with specific time intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If early prosthetic devices attached electrodes to the head or eyelids, then electrical stimulation of retinal cells could be achieved, but the devices became large and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthetic device is divided into two separate components: an external video processing unit and an intraocular implant. The implant contains only the essential electrode array and minimal electronics, while the bulkier processing components are placed externally, reducing the volume of the implanted portion while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The video processing and control electronics are extracted from the intraocular implant and placed in an external unit. This allows the implant to be minimized to only the necessary components for retinal stimulation, significantly reducing its size and complexity while the external unit handles all complex processing functions.
2Reliability
If early prosthetic devices attached electrodes to the head or eyelids, then electrical stimulation could be provided, but they could not produce adequate simulated vision
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical electrode attachment methods with a sophisticated electronic processing system that captures video images, processes them through multiple stages (decimation, dithering, frame differencing), and converts them into precise electrical stimulation patterns. This substitution of mechanical simplicity with electronic complexity enables superior visual simulation quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts multiple parameters including pulse width modulation depth, stimulation amplitude, electrode selection, and frame timing intervals to optimize visual perception. These parameter changes enable the conversion of standard video signals into optimized retinal stimulation patterns that produce adequate simulated vision.
3Stability of the object's composition
If continuous power was provided to the retinal stimulation system, then stable artificial vision could be maintained, but energy consumption would increase
Solution Approach 1:
The retinal stimulation system operates in periodic cycles synchronized with video frame rates, with power delivered only during active stimulation periods. The system enters low-power states between frames and uses efficient pulse width modulation to minimize energy consumption while maintaining stable visual perception during active operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The power delivery system dynamically adjusts its operation based on visual scene requirements, using motion detection and frame differencing to stimulate only when changes occur. This dynamic operation maintains stable artificial vision when needed while conserving energy during static periods, adapting power consumption to actual visual demands.
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
The apparatus provides controlled artificial vision by converting video images into electrical stimulation patterns that can be transmitted to the retina, offering a more stable and effective means of simulating visual perception for individuals with severe vision loss.
Implementation Method 1
the coil assembly can be used to transmit signals to, and/or power, an implantable visual prosthesis
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a wireless transmission system for a prosthetic apparatus including a mounting system to be worn on a body, a wound wire transmission coil mounted to the mounting system and sending a stimulation signal, an implantable receiving coil receiving the stimulation signal and connected to a hermetic electronics package, an implantable telemetry transmitting coil connected to the hermetic electronics package, and a telemetry receiving coil printed on a printed circuit board, mounted to the mounting system and receiving the telemetry signal.