Eye-tracking visual prosthetic and method

摘要

An improved prosthesis and method for stimulating vision nerves to obtain a vision sensation that is useful for the patient that has lost vision due to AMD, RP, and other diseases. The invention utilizes infrared light to cause action potentials in the retinal nerves similar to those which result from rods and cones stimulated by visible light in healthy retinas. In some embodiments, the invention provides a prosthesis that generates a stimulation pattern of infrared light from an external stimulator array through the eye and focusing the stimulation pattern of infrared light on the retina, especially the fovea. Some embodiments the invention provides improved resolution down to a group of nerves, or even the individual nerve level, with sufficient energy density so as to cause a desired action potential.

主权项

1. A wearable system to aid in treating a vision problem of a first eye of a person, wherein the first eye has a retina having at least one functional nerve layer, and wherein at least part of the system is immediately in front of the first eye of the person, the system comprising:
at least one imager that obtains a temporal sequence of images of a scene and converts the sequence of images into digital-image signals, the at least one imager having a field of view facing away from the person; an eye-position detector that detects a direction of gaze of the first eye; a field-of-view controller configured to direct the field of view of the at least one imager in response to the direction of gaze of the first eye detected by the eye-position detector; an image-processing unit that is operatively coupled to the at least one imager, wherein the image-processing unit processes the digital-image signals and generates a series of optical-source-driving signals based on the digital-image signals; an optical source configured to receive the optical-source-driving signals and to generate and emit optical signals, wherein the optical signals have a wavelength between 1800 nm and 1900 nm and a pulse width between 1 microsecond and 8 milliseconds; an ocular implant configured to be implanted at least in part within the first eye of the person, wherein the ocular implant has a light-receiving anterior end closest to the first eye's anterior surface, and extends to a posterior end that is closer to the first eye's fovea than to the first eye's anterior surface; and an image-position moving unit configured to direct the optical signals into the ocular implant, such that directions of the optical signals follow changes in the direction of gaze of the first eye, wherein the ocular implant is configured to transmit the optical signals through an inner portion of the first eye and onto an at least one functional nerve layer of the first eye's retina, and wherein the optical signals produce nerve action potentials in order to produce a vision sensation to the person.