Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

Doheny Eye Institute

Alan Matthew Horsager

Robert Jay Greenberg

Matthew J McMahon

Ione Fine

Mark Salman Humayun

Arup Roy

Scott Greenwald

Kelly Hobart McClure

Geoffrey M Boynton

James David Weiland

Rongqing Dai

Dao Min Zhou

Avraham I Caspi

Sumit Yadav

Amy Hines

Neha J Parikh

Chunhong Zhou

Peter Meilstrup

Jone Fine

James David Welland

Kelly H Mcclure

Mark S Humayun

Neha Jagdish Parikh

The present invention is a fitting system with a graphical interface with specific interface screens for specific functions. Methods and devices for fitting a visual prosthesis are described. In one of the methods, threshold levels and maximum levels for the electrodes of the prosthesis are determined and a map of brightness to electrode stimulation levels is later formed. A fitting system for a visual prosthesis is also discussed, together with a computer-operated system having a graphical user interface showing visual prosthesis diagnostic screens and visual prosthesis configuration screens.

Visual prosthesis fitting

The present invention relates to a saliency-based apparatus and methods for visual prostheses. A saliency-based component processes video data output by a digital signal processor before the video data are input to the retinal stimulator. In a saliency-based method, an intensity stream is extracted from an input image, feature maps based on the intensity stream are developed, plural most salient regions of the input image are detected and one of the regions is selected as a highest saliency region.

Saliency-based apparatus and methods for visual prostheses

The invention is a method of identifying a preferred location for an electrode array to the neural characteristics of an individual subject. The response to electrical neural stimulation varies from subject to subject and array location to array location. Measure of impedance may be used to predict the electrode height from the neural tissue and, thereby, predict the preferred location. Alternatively, electrode height may be measured directly to predict the preferred location.

Locating a neural prosthesis using impedance and electrode height

In a visual prosthesis or other neural stimulator it is advantageous to provide non-overlapping pulses in order to provide independent control of brightness from different electrodes. Non-overlapping pulses on geographically close electrodes avoid electric-field interaction which leads to brightness summation or changes in the shape and area of percepts. It is advantageous to apply pulses to nearby electrodes in a way that the currents do not overlap in time at all. 'Nearby' is defined as within a few millimeters of each other. The same parameters that provide independent control of brightness also produce spatial patterns that the subjects' report as being similar to the sum of individual electrode phosphenes. Simultaneous stimulation of multiple electrodes can sometimes produce physical sensation or discomfort in the eye. Time-shifting the pulses cab also be used to reduce the physical sensations felt by the patient.

Visual prosthesis for control of spatiotemporal interactions

The present invention is a visual prosthesis for stimulating visual neurons to create the perception of light. The visual prosthesis electrically stimulating the retina with implanted electrodes exhibits interaction between electrodes stimulated closely together in both space and time. The visual prosthesis of the present invention includes means for 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 milliseconds.

Multi-electrode integration in a visual prosthesis

The present invention is a saliency-based apparatus and methods for visual prostheses. A saliency-based component processes video data output by a digital signal processor before the video data are input to the retinal stimulator. In a saliency-based method, an intensity stream is extracted from an input image, feature maps based on the intensity stream are developed, plural most salient regions of the input image are detected and one of the regions is selected as a highest saliency region.

In a visual prosthesis or other neural stimulator it is advantageous to provide non-overlapping pulses in order to provide independent control of brightness from different electrodes. Non-overlapping pulses on geographically close electrodes avoid electric-field interaction which leads to brightness summation or changes in the shape and area of percepts. It is advantageous to apply pulses to nearby electrodes in a way that the currents do not overlap in time at all. The new finding is that even a small amount of separation in time results in a significant improvement with a time separation as small as 0.225 msec. 'Nearby' is defined as within a few millimeters of each other.

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 &#x3bc;sec.

An apparatus and method for retinal stimulation are shown. The method comprises varied parameters, including frequency, pulse width, and pattern of pulse trains to determine a stimulation pattern and neural perception threshold, and creating a model based on the neural perception thresholds to optimize patterns of neural stimulation.

Apparatus and method for electrical stimulation of human neurons

An apparatus and method for retinal stimulation are shown. The method comprises varied parameters, including frequency, pulse width, and pattern of pulse trains to determine a stimulation pattern and visual perception threshold.

Apparatus and method for electrical stimulation of human retina

Methods and devices for fitting a visual prosthesis are described. In one of the methods, threshold levels and maximum levels for the electrodes of the prosthesis are determined and a map of brightness to electrode stimulation levels is later formed. A fitting system for a visual prosthesis is also discussed, together with a computer-operated system having a graphical user interface showing visual prosthesis diagnostic screens and visual prosthesis configuration screens.

The invention is a method of automatically adjusting an electrode array to the neural characteristics of an individual subject. The response to electrical neural stimulation varies from subject to subject. Measure of impedance may be used to predict the electrode height from the neural tissue and, thereby, predict the threshold of perception. Alternatively, electrode height may be measured directly to predict the threshold of perception. Also, impedance measurement may be used to quickly identify defective electrodes and proper electrode placement.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Alan Matthew Horsager