公开(公告)号：US06920358B2

公开(公告)日：2005-07-19

申请号：US09851268

申请日：2001-05-07

申请人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Richard P. Williamson ,  Joseph H. Schulman ,  Reza P. Rassool ,  Lee J. Mandell ,  Abraham N. Seidman

发明人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Richard P. Williamson ,  Joseph H. Schulman ,  Reza P. Rassool ,  Lee J. Mandell ,  Abraham N. Seidman

IPC分类号： A61N1/05 ,  A61N1/36 ,  G06T3/40 ,  A61N1/08

CPC分类号： A61N1/36046 ,  G06T3/40

摘要： A method and apparatus for improving visual acuity when providing a visual image from a “high” resolution input device to a “low” resolution output device. The described invention is of particular use when the output device is an array of electrodes as part of a retinal prosthesis used to restore vision to a visually-impaired patient. In that various limitations may, within the foreseeable future, limit the density of such an electrode array (and thus the resolution of the output image), the present invention teaches techniques to assign processed pixel subsets of a higher resolution image to a single electrode. By varying the pixel subsets, e.g., by jittering, and/or altering the processing criteria, the perceived visual acuity may be further improved. Alternatively and additionally, such processing may be further extended to drive neighboring electrodes in combination to thus stimulate virtual electrode sites and thus further enhance visual acuity.

摘要翻译： 当从“高”分辨率输入装置向“低”分辨率输出装置提供视觉图像时，用于提高视力的方法和装置。 当输出设备是用作将视力恢复到视觉障碍患者的视网膜假体的一部分的电极阵列时，所描述的本发明是特别有用的。 因此，在可预见的将来可能会限制这种电极阵列的密度（因此输出图像的分辨率）的各种限制，本发明教导了将更高分辨率图像的经处理的像素子集分配给单个电极的技术。 通过例如通过抖动和/或改变处理标准来改变像素子集，可以进一步改善感知的视敏度。 另外地和另外地，这样的处理可以进一步延伸以组合驱动相邻电极，从而刺激虚拟电极位置，从而进一步提高视敏度。

公开(公告)号：US08019428B2

公开(公告)日：2011-09-13

申请号：US11880045

申请日：2007-07-19

申请人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Richard P. Williamson ,  Joseph H. Schulman ,  Reza P. Rassool ,  Lee J. Mandell ,  Abraham N. Seidman

发明人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Richard P. Williamson ,  Joseph H. Schulman ,  Reza P. Rassool ,  Lee J. Mandell ,  Abraham N. Seidman

IPC分类号： A61N1/00

CPC分类号： A61N1/36046

摘要： A method and apparatus for improving visual acuity when providing a visual image from a “high” resolution input device to a “low” resolution output device. The described invention is of particular use when the output device is an array of electrodes as part of a retinal prosthesis used to restore vision to a visually-impaired patient. In that various limitations may, within the foreseeable future, limit the density of such an electrode array (and thus the resolution of the output image), the present invention teaches techniques to assign processed pixel subsets of a higher resolution image to a single electrode. By varying the pixel subsets, e.g., by jittering, and/or altering the processing criteria, the perceived visual acuity may be further improved. Alternatively and additionally, such processing may be further extended to drive neighboring electrodes in combination to thus stimulate virtual electrode sites and thus further enhance visual acuity.

公开(公告)号：US08428741B2

公开(公告)日：2013-04-23

申请号：US13196020

申请日：2011-08-02

申请人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Richard P. Williamson ,  Joseph H. Schulman ,  Reza P. Rassool ,  Lee J. Mandell ,  Abraham N. Seidman

发明人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Richard P. Williamson ,  Joseph H. Schulman ,  Reza P. Rassool ,  Lee J. Mandell ,  Abraham N. Seidman

IPC分类号： A61N1/00

CPC分类号： A61N1/36046

摘要： A method and apparatus for improving visual acuity when providing a visual image from a “high” resolution input device to a “low” resolution output device. The described invention is of particular use when the output device is an array of electrodes as part of a retinal prosthesis used to restore vision to a visually-impaired patient. In that various limitations may, within the foreseeable future, limit the density of such an electrode array (and thus the resolution of the output image), the present invention teaches techniques to assign processed pixel subsets of a higher resolution image to a single electrode. By varying the pixel subsets, e.g., by jittering, and/or altering the processing criteria, the perceived visual acuity may be further improved. Alternatively and additionally, such processing may be further extended to drive neighboring electrodes in combination to thus stimulate virtual electrode sites and thus further enhance visual acuity.

公开(公告)号：US07925354B2

公开(公告)日：2011-04-12

申请号：US11879982

申请日：2007-07-19

申请人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Richard P. Williamson ,  Joseph H. Schulman ,  Reza P. Rassool ,  Lee J. Mandell ,  Abraham N. Seidman

发明人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Richard P. Williamson ,  Joseph H. Schulman ,  Reza P. Rassool ,  Lee J. Mandell ,  Abraham N. Seidman

IPC分类号： A61N1/08

CPC分类号： A61N1/36046

摘要： A method and apparatus for improving visual acuity when providing a visual image from a “high” resolution input device to a “low” resolution output device. The described invention is of particular use when the output device is an array of electrodes as part of a retinal prosthesis used to restore vision to a visually-impaired patient. In that various limitations may, within the foreseeable future, limit the density of such an electrode array (and thus the resolution of the output image), the present invention teaches techniques to assign processed pixel subsets of a higher resolution image to a single electrode. By varying the pixel subsets, e.g., by jittering, and/or altering the processing criteria, the perceived visual acuity may be further improved. Alternatively and additionally, such processing may be further extended to drive neighboring electrodes in combination to thus stimulate virtual electrode sites and thus further enhance visual acuity.

摘要翻译： 当从“高”分辨率输入装置向“低”分辨率输出装置提供视觉图像时，用于提高视力的方法和装置。 当输出设备是用作将视力恢复到视觉障碍患者的视网膜假体的一部分的电极阵列时，所描述的本发明是特别有用的。 因此，在可预见的将来可能会限制这种电极阵列的密度（因此输出图像的分辨率）的各种限制，本发明教导了将更高分辨率图像的经处理的像素子集分配给单个电极的技术。 通过例如通过抖动和/或改变处理标准来改变像素子集，可以进一步改善感知的视敏度。 另外地和另外地，这样的处理可以进一步延伸以组合驱动相邻电极，从而刺激虚拟电极位置，从而进一步提高视敏度。

公开(公告)号：US07266413B2

公开(公告)日：2007-09-04

申请号：US11115620

申请日：2005-04-27

申请人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Richard P. Williamson ,  Joseph H. Schulman ,  Reza P. Rassool ,  Lee J. Mandell ,  Abraham N. Seidman

发明人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Richard P. Williamson ,  Joseph H. Schulman ,  Reza P. Rassool ,  Lee J. Mandell ,  Abraham N. Seidman

IPC分类号： A61N1/00

CPC分类号： A61N1/36046 ,  G06T3/40

摘要： A method and apparatus for improving visual acuity when providing a visual image from a “high” resolution input device to a “low” resolution output device. The described invention is of particular use when the output device is an array of electrodes as part of a retinal prosthesis used to restore vision to a visually-impaired patient. In that various limitations may, within the foreseeable future, limit the density of such an electrode array (and thus the resolution of the output image), the present invention teaches techniques to assign processed pixel subsets of a higher resolution image to a single electrode. By varying the pixel subsets, e.g., by jittering, and/or altering the processing criteria, the perceived visual acuity may be further improved. Alternatively and additionally, such processing may be further extended to drive neighboring electrodes in combination to thus stimulate virtual electrode sites and thus further enhance visual acuity.

公开(公告)号：US20110288612A1

公开(公告)日：2011-11-24

申请号：US13196020

申请日：2011-08-02

申请人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Richard P. Willamson ,  Joseph H. Schulman ,  Reza P. Rassool ,  Lee J. Mandell ,  Abraham N. Seidman

发明人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Richard P. Willamson ,  Joseph H. Schulman ,  Reza P. Rassool ,  Lee J. Mandell ,  Abraham N. Seidman

IPC分类号： A61F9/08

CPC分类号： A61N1/36046

摘要： A method and apparatus for improving visual acuity when providing a visual image from a “high” resolution input device to a “low” resolution output device. The described invention is of particular use when the output device is an array of electrodes as part of a retinal prosthesis used to restore vision to a visually-impaired patient. In that various limitations may, within the foreseeable future, limit the density of such an electrode array (and thus the resolution of the output image), the present invention teaches techniques to assign processed pixel subsets of a higher resolution image to a single electrode. By varying the pixel subsets, e.g., by jittering, and/or altering the processing criteria, the perceived visual acuity may be further improved. Alternatively and additionally, such processing may be further extended to drive neighboring electrodes in combination to thus stimulate virtual electrode sites and thus further enhance visual acuity.

摘要翻译： 当从“高”分辨率输入装置向“低”分辨率输出装置提供视觉图像时，用于提高视力的方法和装置。 当输出设备是用作将视力恢复到视觉障碍患者的视网膜假体的一部分的电极阵列时，所描述的本发明是特别有用的。 因此，在可预见的将来可能会限制这种电极阵列的密度（因此输出图像的分辨率）的各种限制，本发明教导了将更高分辨率图像的经处理的像素子集分配给单个电极的技术。 通过例如通过抖动和/或改变处理标准来改变像素子集，可以进一步改善感知的视敏度。 另外地和另外地，这样的处理可以进一步延伸以组合驱动相邻电极，从而刺激虚拟电极位置，从而进一步提高视敏度。

公开(公告)号：US07133724B2

公开(公告)日：2006-11-07

申请号：US10304815

申请日：2002-11-26

申请人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Abraham N. Seidman ,  Joseph H. Schulman

发明人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Abraham N. Seidman ,  Joseph H. Schulman

IPC分类号： A61N1/18

CPC分类号： A61N1/36046 ,  A61F9/08

摘要： This invention is for directly modulating a beam of photons onto the retinas of patients who have extreme vision impairment or blindness. Its purpose is to supply enough imaging energy to retinal prosthetics implanted in the eye which operate essentially by having light (external to the eye) activating photoreceptors, or photo-electrical material. The invention provides sufficient light amplification and does it logarithmically. While it has sufficient output light power, the output light level still remains at a safe level. Most preferred embodiments of this invention provide balanced biphasic stimulation with no net charge injection into the eye. Both optical and electronic magnification for the image, as for example, using an optical zoom lens, is incorporated. Otherwise, it would not be feasible to zoom in on items of particular interest or necessity. Without proper adjustment, improper threshold amplitudes would obtain, as well as uncomfortable maximum thresholds. Therefore, to adjust for these, a way of proper adjustment for the threshold amplitudes and maximum comfortable thresholds is provided. Furthermore, to the extent that individual stimulation sites in the retina give different color perceptions, upon stimulation, then colors of the viewed scene is correlated with specific stimulation sites to provide a certain amount of color vision.

公开(公告)号：US08046078B2

公开(公告)日：2011-10-25

申请号：US12425236

申请日：2009-04-16

申请人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Abraham N. Seidman ,  Joseph H. Schulman

发明人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Abraham N. Seidman ,  Joseph H. Schulman

IPC分类号： A61N1/18

CPC分类号： A61N1/36046 ,  A61F9/08

摘要： Directly modulating a beam of photons onto the retinas of patients who have vision impairment or blindness. Its purpose is to supply enough imaging energy to retinal prosthetics implanted in the eye which operate essentially by having light, activating photoreceptors, or photoelectrical material. Providing sufficient light amplification logarithmically. Output light level being at a safe level. Providing balanced biphasic stimulation with no net charge injection into the eye. Optical and electronic magnification is used for the image with an optical zoom lens. It would not be feasible to zoom in on items of particular interest or necessity. Without proper adjustment, improper threshold amplitudes would obtain, also uncomfortable maximum thresholds. Proper adjustment for the threshold amplitudes and maximum comfortable thresholds is provided. The individual stimulation sites in the retina give different color perceptions, then colors of the viewed scene is correlated with specific stimulation sites to provide color vision.

摘要翻译： 将光束直接调制到视力障碍或失明患者的视网膜上。 其目的是为植入眼睛的视网膜假体提供足够的成像能量，其基本上通过具有光，激活光感受器或光电材料来操作。 提供足够的光放大对数。 输出光水平处于安全水平。 提供平衡的双相刺激，没有净电荷注入眼睛。 光学和电子倍率用于具有光学变焦镜头的图像。 放大特别感兴趣或必要的项目是不可行的。 没有适当的调整，不正确的阈值振幅将获得，也是不舒服的最大阈值。 提供了阈值幅度和最大舒适阈值的适当调整。 视网膜中的个体刺激部位产生不同的颜色感知，然后将观看场景的颜色与特定刺激部位相关联，以提供色觉。

公开(公告)号：US07539544B2

公开(公告)日：2009-05-26

申请号：US11522001

申请日：2006-09-14

申请人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Abraham N. Seidman ,  Joseph H. Schulman

发明人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Abraham N. Seidman ,  Joseph H. Schulman

IPC分类号： A61N1/00

CPC分类号： A61N1/36046 ,  A61F9/08

摘要： Directly modulating a beam of photons onto the retinas of patients who have extreme vision impairment or blindness. Supplying enough imaging energy to retinal prosthetics implanted in the eye which operate by having light (external to the eye) activating photoreceptors, or photoelectrical material. Providing sufficient light amplification and does it logarithmically. Having sufficient output light power, the output light level still remains at a safe level. Providing balanced biphasic stimulation with no net charge injection into the eye. Both optical and electronic magnification for the image is incorporated. It would not be feasible to zoom in on items of particular interest or necessity. Improper threshold amplitudes would obtain uncomfortable maximum thresholds. Proper adjustment for the threshold amplitudes and maximum comfortable thresholds is provided. The extent that the individual stimulation sites in the retina give different color perceptions, upon stimulation, colors of the viewed scene is correlated with specific stimulation sites providing a certain amount of color vision.

摘要翻译： 将一束光子直接调制到具有极端视力障碍或失明的患者的视网膜上。 为植入眼睛的视网膜假体提供足够的成像能量，通过使光线（眼睛外部）激活光感受器或光电材料来操作。 提供足够的光放大和对数。 具有足够的输出光功率，输出光水平仍然保持在一个安全的水平。 提供平衡的双相刺激，没有净电荷注入眼睛。 并入了图像的光学和电子倍率。 放大特别感兴趣或必要的项目是不可行的。 不正确的阈值幅度将获得不舒适的最大阈值。 提供了阈值幅度和最大舒适阈值的适当调整。 视网膜中的个体刺激部位在不同的颜色感觉的情况下，在刺激时，观看场景的颜色与提供一定量颜色视觉的特定刺激部位相关。

公开(公告)号：US20090204212A1

公开(公告)日：2009-08-13

申请号：US12425236

申请日：2009-04-16

申请人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Abraham N. Seidman ,  Joseph H. Schulman

发明人： Robert J. Greenberg ,  Abraham N. Seidman ,  Joseph H. Schulman

IPC分类号： A61F9/08 ,  A61N1/00 ,  A61N1/36

CPC分类号： A61N1/36046 ,  A61F9/08

摘要： This invention is for directly modulating a beam of photons onto the retinas of patients who have extreme vision impairment or blindness. Its purpose is to supply enough imaging energy to retinal prosthetics implanted in the eye which operate essentially by having light (external to the eye) activating photoreceptors, or photoelectrical material. The invention provides sufficient light amplification and does it logarithmically. While it has sufficient output light power, the output light level still remains at a safe level. Most preferred embodiments of this invention provide balanced biphasic stimulation with no net charge injection into the eye. Both optical and electronic magnification for the image, as for example, using an optical zoom lens, is incorporated. Otherwise, it would not be feasible to zoom in on items of particular interest or necessity. Without proper adjustment, improper threshold amplitudes would obtain, as well as uncomfortable maximum thresholds. Therefore, to adjust for these, a way of proper adjustment for the threshold amplitudes and maximum comfortable thresholds is provided. Furthermore, to the extent that the individual stimulation sites in the retina give different color perceptions, upon stimulation, then colors of the viewed scene is correlated with specific stimulation sites to provide a certain amount of color vision.

摘要翻译： 本发明用于将光束束直接调制到具有极端视力障碍或失明的患者的视网膜上。 其目的是为植入眼睛的视网膜假体提供足够的成像能量，其基本上通过使光（外部的眼睛）激活光感受器或光电材料。 本发明提供足够的光放大，并且它是对数的。 虽然它具有足够的输出光功率，但输出光级仍然保持在一个安全的水平。 本发明最优选的实施方案提供平衡的双相刺激，而没有净电荷注入眼睛。 包括用于图像的光学和电子倍率，例如使用光学变焦透镜。 否则，放大特别感兴趣或必要的项目是不可行的。 没有适当的调整，不正确的阈值振幅将获得，以及不舒适的最大阈值。 因此，为了适应这些，提供了适当调整阈值振幅和最大舒适阈值的方法。 此外，在视网膜中的个别刺激部位产生不同的颜色感觉的情况下，在刺激时，所观看场景的颜色与特定刺激部位相关，以提供一定量的色觉。