Other

Optobionics Corporation

Imi Intelligent Medical Implants Ag

Ellsworth, Chow & Murphy, Inc.

Pittway Corporation

Mda Scientific, Inc.

Pixium Vision Sa

Vincent Y Chow

Alan Y Chow

Lee D Tice

Jay Cech

Byron A Denenberg

George Y McLean

Christopher M Bonner

Vladimir Gelfandbein

Eron Flory

Leonard M Ginsburg

Carl C T Wang

The Present Invention relates to methods and systems particularly useful in electrical products used to monitor and detect very weak signals. These products include, for example, night vision binoculars and remote listening devices. More specifically, the methods and systems of the Present Invention provide a signal conditioning technique that attenuates electrical noise generated within the product while at the same time preserving the integrity of the input signal. This provides a high signal-to-noise ratio within the product electronics and a dramatically clear final image. The Present Invention includes a method and system for chopping or splitting an input signal into two components, tagging each of the split signal components with opposite polarities, and a second reverse chopping step that combines the split and tagged input signal components into a restored input signal. The combining step, in addition to restoring the original input signal, cancels and attenuates internally generated, and untagged, electronic noise, providing image quality and detection in an efficient and economical manner that could not be obtained in the past.

System and method for attenuation of electrical noise

An artificial retina device to electrically stimulate a neuroretina of an eye to produce artificial vision, the artificial retina device comprising: an electrical source; at least one stimulating electrode connected with the electrical source; and at least one ground return electrode connected with the electrical source, wherein the stimulating electrode and ground return electrode are configured to be disposed within the eye on opposite sides of the neuroretina.

Artificial retina device with stimulating and ground return electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the neuroretina and method of attachment

Mechanically activated objects or devices for use in treating degenerative retinal diseases are provided. Such devices apply mechanical forces to tissues of an eye to effectuate treatment and are configured for chronic implantation (thereby applying chronic stimulation/irritation) in or on the eye. The devices may be configured for contact with a retina of the eye, preferably positioned in a subretinal space. Various embodiments comprise a moving member configured for chronic contact with at least a portion of the eye, which moving member is activated by an actuator. In some embodiments, the actuator may be distally located relative to the moving member. Alternatively, the moving member may be supported by a body member that, optionally, also supports the actuator.

Mechanically activated objects for treatment of degenerative retinal disease

An artificial retinal device, implanted in the subretinal space of the eye in persons with certain types of retinal blindness, induces artificial vision by electrical stimulation of the remaining viable cells of the retina. The artificial retina device includes a stimulating electrode unit preferably placed in the subretinal space.

An artificial retina device and a retinal stimulation system and method for stimulating and modulating its function is disclosed. The artificial retina device includes multi-phasic microphotodiode subunits. In persons suffering from blindness due to outer retinal layer damage, a plurality of such devices, when surgically implanted into the subretinal space, may allow useful formed artificial vision to develop. By projecting real or computer controlled visible light images, and computer controlled infrared light images or illumination, simultaneously or in rapid alternation onto the artificial retina device, the nature of induced retinal images may be modulated and improved. The retinal stimulation system may be worn as a headset. Color images may be induced by programming the stimulating pulse durations and frequencies of the stimulation.

Multi-phasic microphotodiode retinal implant and adaptive imaging retinal stimulation system

Methods of using electrical stimulation by itself or in conjunction with growth factors to treat and prevent visual loss due to choroidal, retinal pigment epithelial and/or neuroretinal cell degeneration and dysfunction are presented.

Methods for improving damaged retinal cell function

A visible and infrared light powered retinal implant is disclosed that is implanted into the subretinal space for electrically inducing formed vision in the eye. The retinal implant includes a stacked microphotodetector arrangement having an image sensing pixel layer and a voltage and current gain adjustment layer for providing variable voltage and current gain to the implant so as to obtain better low light implant performance than the prior art, and to compensate for high retinal stimulation thresholds present in some retinal diseases. A first light filter is positioned on one of the microphotodetectors in each of the image sensing pixels of the implant, and a second light filter is positioned on the other of the microphotodetectors in the image sensing pixel of the implant, each of the microphotodetectors of the pixel to respond to a different wavelength of light to produce a sensation of darkness utilizing the first wavelength, and a sensation of light using the second wavelength, and a third light filter is positioned on a portion of the voltage and current gain adjustment layer that is exposed to light, to allow adjustment of the implant voltage and current gain of the device by use of a third wavelength of light.

Adjustment of electrical stimulus in a retinal implant

An artificial retinal device, implanted in the subretinal space of the eye in persons with certain types of retinal blindness, induces artificial vision by electrical stimulation of the remaining viable cells of the retina. The artificial retina device includes a stimulating electrode unit preferably placed in the subretinal space, and a tail-like extension housing a distant electrical return ground electrode unit that may be placed in the vitreous cavity. The stimulating electrode unit includes an array of electrode subunits. Each electrode subunit includes one or more microphotodiodes electrically connected, for example, in series to provide increased voltage and current to its microelectrode. The stimulating electrode unit and the ground return electrode of the ground return electrode unit are preferably disposed on opposite sides of the neuroretina to allow for efficient and high resolution transretinal electrical stimulation of the neuroretinal cells. Additional photodiodes may be incorporated into the circuitry of the artificial retina device to provide additional bias voltage and current to the microelectrode subunits of the stimulating electrode unit. In another preferred embodiment, the ground return electrode in the tail-like extension is disposed in the capsular bag of the eye, after lens nucleus and cortex removal, where it is electrically connected to an additional bias photodiode or photodiodes.

A system and method are disclosed for carrying additional information data on multiplexed signals which are modulated on different wavelengths. An information code such as an address or control data for a particular data signal at a selected wavelength is overlaid on the parallel multiplexed signals. The information code may be overlaid by attenuation or changing the amplitude of the different signals. A separate marker channel at a separate wavelength is also multiplexed with the data signals to indicate the presence of an information code. An optical data detector array is used to optically determine the encoded address by comparing the signals with light levels and producing an output when a matching code is detected. The optical data detector array uses a series of detectors each corresponding to the wavelength of light signals carrying the information data. The detectors each have two photo detectors which are wired in parallel with each other to produce a voltage output when different light levels are detected on the two photo detectors. Using the information codes, an optical buffer may be realized which allows true optical switching of a data signal on detection of a matching information code. Alternatively, optical signals may be cross connected to balance data traffic through a fiber optic cable.

Wavelength associative addressing system for WDM type light packet steering

An artificial retina device and a method for stimulating and modulating its function is disclosed. The artificial retina device is comprised of plural multi-phasic microphotodiode subunits. In persons suffering from blindness due to outer retinal layer damage, a plurality of such devices, when surgically implanted into the subretinal space, may allow useful formed artificial vision to develop. One device, called a MMRI-4, transduces light into electric currents to stimulate the retina. The four microphotodiode subunits of the MMRI-4 are oriented so that each flattened sides of the MMRI-4 has two subunits in a PiN configuration and two subunits in a NiP configuration. The flattened cubic shape of the MMRI-4 will allow one or the other of the two flattened sides to be preferentially directed toward incident light when implanted in the subretinal space. Because both the PiN and NiP configurations are present on each of the flattened sides of the MMRI-4, electric currents which produce the sensation of light from a PiN current, or darkness from a NiP current, can be induced regardless of which the flattened photoactive sides faces incident light. Filter layers disposed on the PiN configuration will allow visible light to induce a PiN current, and filter layers disposed on the NiP configuration will allow infrared light to induce a NiP current. By projecting real or computer controlled visible light images, and computer controlled infrared light images or illumination, simultaneously or in rapid alternation onto the MMRI-4s, the nature of induced retinal images may be modulated and improved. An Adaptive Imaging Retinal Stimulation System (AIRES), with a Projection and Tracking Optical System (PTOS), which may be worn as a headset is used for this purpose, and is also disclosed. Color images may even be induced by programming the stimulating pulse durations and frequencies of the AIRES system. By creating both PiN and NiP currents, in close spatial positions and temporal sequences, electrolysis damage to cellular tissue from prolonged unidirectional electric currents is reduced. MMRI-4s may also be embedded in a flexible, biologically compatible sheet, with its electrodes exposed on both surfaces of the sheet. This sheet is then implanted on the nerve fiber layer surface of the retina, where electrical stimulation can also induce a form of artificial vision.

Wave length associative addressing system for WDM type light packet steering

An optical signal receiver for rapid and error free translation of optical signals into electrical signals is disclosed. The receiver is coupled to a light source. The light source is amplified and then split into two segments. One of the segments is delayed by a specific amount of time. Both segments are optically coupled to a photo detector. Each photo detector is coupled in parallel and are connected by two output terminals. When the voltage output by each photo detector is equal, the output terminals are balanced and will not have any voltage. The circuit will provide a voltage output on the terminal only on differential photocurrents sensed by the detector elements. The quiescent magnitude of the voltage output is a function of the value of the reverse bias voltage applied by the two voltage sources.

Integral differential optical signal receiver

A multi-function detector has at least two different sensors coupled to a control circuit. In a normal operating mode the control circuit, which could include a programmed processor, processes outputs from both sensors to evaluate if a predetermined condition is present in the environment adjacent to the detector. In this mode the detector exhibits a predetermined sensitivity. In response to a failure of one of the sensors, the control circuit processes the output of the remaining operational sensor or sensors so that the detector will continue to evaluate the condition of the environment with substantially the same sensitivity.

Growing community of inventors

Hanover Park, IL, United States of America

Vincent Y Chow