Multi-phasic microphotodiode retinal implant and adaptive imaging retinal stimulation system
US6230057A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 26, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 8, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/36046
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
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. 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 Projecti…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.