| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 607053000 | Promoting optical function | 37 |
| 20080255634 | Treatment of Obesity and/or Type II Diabetes by Stimulation of the Pituitary Gland - Methods of treating obesity and/or type II diabetes include applying at least one stimulus to the pituitary gland of a patient with an implanted stimulator in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. The at least one stimulus is configured to treat obesity and/or type II diabetes. Systems for treating obesity and/or type II diabetes include a stimulator configured to apply at least one stimulus to the pituitary gland of a patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. The at least one stimulus is configured to treat obesity and/or type II diabetes. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20100036457 | CODING FOR VISUAL PROSTHESES - A visual prostheses codes visual signals into electrical stimulation patterns for the creation of artificial vision. In some examples, coding of the information uses image compression techniques, temporal coding strategies, continuous interleaved sampling (CIS), and/or radar or sonar data. Examples of the approach are not limited to processing visual signals but can also be used to processing signals at other frequency ranges (e.g., infrared, radio frequency, and ultrasound), for instance, creating an augmented visual sensation. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100057166 | System and Method for Measuring and Fitting Spatio-Temporal Vision - This system gives the experimenter great flexibility to present spatio-temporal stimulation patterns to a subject. A video configuration file (VCF) editor allows the experimenter to determine the electrical stimulation parameters for each electrode. A Pattern Stimulation software program allows direct stimulation of chosen patterns of electrodes, scaled by the subject's VCF, through a Graphical User Interface. The subject then responds by drawing the outline of the phosphene he or she perceives on a touchscreen. The Pattern Stimulation program saves all of the trial parameters and the parameters of an ellipse fit to their drawing, as well as a raw data file containing the input to the touchscreen is saved. After the experiment, offline image analysis can be performed to obtain a detailed quantitative description of the subject's percepts. Image descriptors can assigned to the touchscreen data; these image descriptors can be used to make formalized comparisons between various experimental conditions. Various types of image descriptors can be used, including simple ellipse fitting, projections of the 2-D drawings onto one-dimensional axes, calculations of Hu moments, PCA, and ICA. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100198299 | BIOLOGICAL IMPLANTABLE FUNCTIONAL DEVICE AND VISION REGENERATION ASSISTING APPARATUS - A biological implantable functional device comprises: a casing having a space for accommodating an electronic device and formed with an opening; a bendable flexible wiring substrate in which a wiring is formed in a predetermined pattern so as to correspond to an device-side terminal of the electronic device; a casing inner connecting terminal to be connected to an electric substrate provided outside the casing; and a bump to be electrically connected with the flexible wiring substrate and the casing inner connecting terminal; and a cover for sealing the opening of the casing to hermetically seal the electronic device. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100204754 | RETINAL PROSTHESIS - Apparatus is provided, including an external device, including a mount, which is placed in front of an eye of a subject. A laser is coupled to the mount and configured to emit toward the eye radiation that is outside of 380-750 nm. A partially-transparent mirror is coupled to the mount. An intraocular device is implanted entirely in the subject's eye, and includes a plurality of stimulating electrodes, and an energy receiver, which receives the radiation from the laser and generates a voltage drop in response thereto. A plurality of photosensors detect photons and generate a signal in response thereto. Driving circuitry is coupled to the energy receiver and to the photosensors, and receives the signals from the photosensors and utilizes the voltage drop to drive the electrodes to apply currents to the retina in response to the signals from the photosensors. Other embodiments are also described. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100331911 | System for Dissociation and Removal of Proteinaceous Tissue - An apparatus and method for the dissociation of soft proteinaceous tissue using pulsed rapid variable direction energy field flow fractionization is disclosed. The pulsed rapid disruptive energy field is created by the use of a probe which surrounds the soft proteinaceous tissue to be removed. Once the adhesive mechanism between tissue constituents has been compromised, fluidic techniques are used to remove the dissociated tissue. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110004271 | VISUAL PROSTHESIS SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING VIDEO IMAGE AND TEXT DATA - A visual prosthesis system comprises a retina implant at least partly located in the interior of a patient's eye. The retina implant comprises an array of micro-contacts adapted for contacting ganglia of the patient's retinal tissue. The visual prosthesis system further comprises a data processing unit with an additional interface for receiving an external signal from an external signal source, the data processing unit being adapted for converting the external signal into corresponding stimulation data for the retina implant, and a wireless transmission unit adapted for transmitting the stimulation data to the retina implant via wireless transmission. The retina implant is adapted for receiving the stimulation data and for stimulating the micro-contacts according to the stimulation data. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110022117 | Cytokine Production Via Electrical Stimulation to Treat Glaucoma - The present invention is a method of treating glaucoma by electrically stimulating the ciliary muscle to produce shear stress on the trabecular meshwork sufficient for cytokine production. A device for electrically stimulating the ciliary muscle includes a pair of electrodes configured to provide a voltage to the ciliary muscle. The electrodes are coupled to a voltage source. A controller operates to apply the voltage to the ciliary muscle. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110022118 | Application of an Electrical Field in the Vicinity of the Trabecular Meshwork to Treat Glaucoma - The present invention is a method of treating glaucoma by applying an electric field in the vicinity of the juxtacanalicular region of the trabecular meshwork sufficient to cause migration or reorientation of glycosaminoglycans located in the extracellular matrix. A device for applying the electric field includes a controller coupled to a pressure sensor, and a pair of electrodes coupled to a voltage source. The electrodes apply the electric field, and the controller controls the application of the electric field based on IOP measurements from the pressure sensor. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110082518 | METHOD FOR PREVENTION OF PRESBYOPIA AND GLAUCOMA, AND MEANS FOR CARRYING OUT SAID TREATMENT - A method of for prevention of presbyopia and glaucoma envisages stimulation of the ciliary body to determine contraction thereof via a low-voltage d.c. current sent in the form of pulse trains. This contraction, if applied in a rhythmic way at a constant frequency, subjects the ciliary muscle to a passive gymnastics increasing the force of contraction thereof, the dimensions, and the efficiency. This increase of force enables the crystalline to be moved with greater efficiency and consequently increases the power of accommodation thereof. The contraction of the ciliary muscle stretches the tendinous formation in direct contact with the sclero-corneal trabeculate and increases the distance between the lamellae of the sclero-corneal angle, restoring the natural function of the trabeculate and thus preventing glaucoma. Stimulation of the anatomical area corresponding to the ciliary body occurs through the use of conductive electrodes positioned in direct contact with the bulbar conjunctiva at an appropriate distance from the corneal limbus. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110118806 | Device For Treating Human Vision Using Combined Optical And Electrical Stimulation - An integrated device for improving the visual system of a human subject includes a computer having a timer and in data communication with a display, a current source and a housing that contains the current source in addition to at least one of the display and the computer. The computer and display are adapted to present optical stimuli to a targeted region of an eye. The current source has at least one terminal for connection of at least one electrode assembly. The timer measures a time relationship. The current source provides electrical stimulation to the subject's brain and the display provides optical stimulation to the subject's eye in a time relationship determined by the timer | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110118807 | Retinal Prosthesis and Method of Manufacturing a Retinal Prosthesis - The present invention is an improved package and configuration for an implantable retinal prosthesis. The retinal prosthesis of the present invention includes an electrode array suitable to be mounted in close proximity to a retina, an electronics package and inductive receiving coil mounted next to each other on a strap surrounding the sclera so that the height above the sclera of the prosthesis is minimized. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110118808 | BIOCOMPATIBLE BONDING METHOD AND ELECTRONICS PACKAGE SUITABLE FOR IMPLANTATION - The invention is directed to a method of bonding a hermetically sealed electronics package to an electrode or a flexible circuit and the resulting electronics package, that is suitable for implantation in living tissue, such as for a retinal or cortical electrode array to enable restoration of sight to certain non-sighted individuals. The hermetically sealed electronics package is directly bonded to the flex circuit or electrode by electroplating a biocompatible material, such as platinum or gold, effectively forming a plated rivet-shaped connection, which bonds the flex circuit to the electronics package. The resulting electronic device is biocompatible and is suitable for long-term implantation in living tissue. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110130806 | Retinal Prosthesis - The invention is a retinal prosthesis with an improved configuration mounting necessary components within and surrounding the eye. The present invention better allows for the implantation of electronics within the delicate eye structure. The invention further limits the necessary width of a thin film conductor passing through the sclera by use of a multiplexer external to the sclera and a demultiplexer internal to the sclera. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110152969 | EXTRAOCULAR EPIRETINAL IMPLANT - The object of providing a visual prosthesis in the form of a retinal implant, which is distinguished by the least possible space requirement inside the eye, is achieved according to the present invention by a visual prosthesis having an intraocular implant and an extraocular implant, which supplies the intraocular implant with energy and controls it. The visual prosthesis according to the invention therefore offers the advantage that virtually all the electronic components, which do not necessarily need to be accommodated with the intraocular implant inside the eye, can be arranged outside the eyeball, for example on the sclera. In this way, the space requirement of the stimulation system inside the eye is reduced and the operative intervention for implanting the stimulation system inside the eye is kept as small as possible. The present invention furthermore discloses a bidirectional inductive interface between an extracorporeal part of the visual prosthesis and an intracorporeal part, comprising the intraocular and extraocular implants, via which an current supply and bidirectional data transmission can be carried out. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110184490 | Multi-Electrode Integration in a Visual Prosthesis - 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 μsec. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110202109 | VISION REGENERATION ASSISTING APPARATUS - A vision regeneration assisting apparatus for regenerating a patient's vision, includes: a housing; a plurality of needle-like electrodes that are formed at the housing and extend from the housing to a predetermined length, the electrodes being configured to stick into an optic papilla of a patient's eye; and a needle-like fixing portion that is formed at the housing, is separated from the electrodes, is formed so that the fixing portion extends from the housing in the same direction in which the electrodes extend, and is configured to maintain a state where the electrodes are stuck in the optic papilla. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110238133 | ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF THE EYE - Apparatus and methods are described for treating an eye of a subject. One or more electrodes are placed at least partially inside the subject's eye. A control unit treats the eye by driving the electrodes to apply an electrical signal to the eye that induces production of nitric oxide (NO). Other embodiments are also described. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110270351 | Shape Analysis for Fitting in a Visual Prosthesis - A method of testing subjects' perception of complex shapes created by patterned multi-electrode direct stimulation of a retinal prosthesis is described. The complex shapes can be geometric shapes or characters such as letters of the alphabet and numbers. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110270352 | Encoding of Size and Brightness of Percepts in a Visual Prosthesis - Methods of electrically stimulating percepts in a patient with a visual prosthesis are discussed. Changes in amplitude of stimulation increase both the perceived brightness and the perceived size of the precept. Changes in frequency of stimulation change the perceived brightness without altering the perceived size of the percept. Hence, a source image may be mapped to a combination of amplitude and frequency that best induces the desired image. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20120041514 | RETINAL PROSTHESIS - An external device ( | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120065704 | ARTIFICIAL RETINA DEVICE - The present technology provides an organic based artificial retina device that includes a substrate and an array of micro-electrodes formed on the substrate. The illustrative artificial retina device further includes a photoconducting polymer blend deposited on the array of micro-electrodes. The photoconducting polymer blend is configured to produce a photoelectric signal in response to receiving light. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120296394 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING OCULAR SURGICAL AND RELAXING INCISIONS - A system and method of treating target tissue in a patient's eye, which includes generating a light beam, deflecting the light beam using a scanner to form first and second treatment patterns, delivering the first treatment pattern to the target tissue to form an incision that provides access to an eye chamber of the patient's eye, and delivering the second treatment pattern to the target tissue to form a relaxation incision along or near limbus tissue or along corneal tissue anterior to the limbus tissue of the patient's eye to reduce astigmatism thereof. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20130006326 | STIMULATION DEVICES AND METHODS - Described here are stimulation systems and methods for stimulating one or more anatomical targets in a patient for treatment conditions such as dry eye. The stimulation system may include a controller and a microstimulator. The components of the controller and microstimulator may be implemented in a single unit or in separate devices. When implemented separately, the controller and microstimulator may communicate wirelessly or via a wired connection. The microstimulator may generate pulses from a signal received from the controller and apply the signal via one or more electrodes to an anatomical target. In some variations, the microstimulator may include a passive generation circuit configured to generate a pulse based on a signal received from the controller. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130066396 | Method for treating an eye - In a method for treating at least one eye of a patient in need of such treatment with a pulsed electrical stimulation signal, first an individual parameter of the patient is determined, thereafter at least one stimulation parameter of the pulsed electrical stimulation signal is set depending on the at least one individual parameter, and then the pulsed electrical stimulation signal is applied to the at least one eye. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130066397 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STIMULATING RETINAL NERVE CELLS - A method and apparatus is described for electrically stimulating a patient's retina with an electrode array ( | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130184782 | DEVICE FOR ELECTROSTIMULATION - A device for electrostimulation of the eye is provided with a spectacles-like supporting frame ( | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130261700 | EYE IMPLANT APPARATUS AND UPDATE SYSTEM FOR THE SAME - The present disclosure discloses an apparatus to be implanted in eyes, including: a configuration memory used for storing signal parameter configuration; a signal generator connected to the configuration memory and used for generating stimulating signals according to the signal parameter configuration in the configuration memory; electrodes connected to the signal generator and contact with outer surface of eye ball after implanted; a communication assembly connected to the configuration memory and used for receiving the signal parameter configuration, storing the received signal parameter configuration in the configuration memory; and a power supply connected to the configuration memory, signal generator and communication assembly, used for providing power. An update system for the apparatus is also disclosed. By using the above apparatus and update system, when it needs to change waveform parameter of stimulating signals, there is no need to take the apparatus out, reducing harm on human body and improving safety. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130304154 | STIMULATION METHOD FOR TREATMENT OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS - One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for modulating, suppressing or preventing an ocular disorder in a subject. One step of the method can include positioning at least one electrode on or proximate to at least one of a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a sphenopalatine nerve (SN), a vidian nerve (VN), a greater petrosal nerve (GPN), a deep petrosal nerve (DPN), or a branch thereof, of the subject. Next, the at least one electrode can be activated to apply an electrical signal to at least one of the SPG, the SN, the VN, the GPN, the DPN, or the branch thereof. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20140316485 | NASAL STIMULATION DEVICES AND METHODS - Described here are devices, systems, and methods for treating one or more conditions (such as dry eye) or improving ocular health by providing stimulation to nasal or sinus tissue. Generally, the devices may be handheld or implantable. In some variations, the handheld devices may have a stimulator body and a stimulator probe having one or more nasal insertion prongs. When the devices and systems are used to treat dry eye, nasal or sinus tissue may be stimulated to increase tear production, reduce the symptoms of dry eye, and/or improve ocular surface health. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140330343 | NEURAL STIMULATION ELECTRODES - The present invention relates to a neural prosthesis. In its most general form, the neural prosthesis comprises an electrode array including a stimulating electrode ( | 11-06-2014 |
| 20160114163 | IMPLANTABLE NASAL STIMULATOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Described here are systems, devices, and methods for implanting a nasal stimulator into nasal tissue and electrically stimulating nasal tissue. In some variations, a nasal microstimulator implantation system may comprise an implantation tool and an implantable microstimulator. An implantation tool may comprise a shaft and features to releasably attach a microstimulator. A microstimulator may comprise a passive stimulation circuit and one or more electrodes. In other variations, a nasal implantation system may additionally comprise one or more additional devices, such as a controller, an electrical probe, and/or a dissection tool. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160114172 | CONTACT LENS FOR INCREASING TEAR PRODUCTION - Described here are devices, systems, and methods for increasing tear production by stimulating the cornea, conjunctiva, and/or subconjunctiva. In some variations, the devices may be in the form of a contact lens. The contact lens may comprise a lens body and a stimulator chip, where the stimulator chip is embedded in the lens body. An external power source wirelessly transmits energy to the stimulator chip, where the stimulator chip may convert the energy to an electric waveform to stimulate the cornea, conjunctiva, and/or subconjunctiva. Stimulation may activate the lacrimal reflex to increase tear production. The devices and systems for increasing tear production may be used in methods of treating dry eye, reducing the symptoms of tired eye, increasing comfort for contact lens wearers, and extending the number of years a contact lens user can wear contacts. Also described are methods of manufacturing a contact lens. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160121118 | STIMULATION DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TREATING DRY EYE - Described herein are devices and methods of use thereof for treating dry eye, tired eye, or other forms of ocular discomfort such as from contact lenses. The methods generally include applying spatially and/or temporally patterned stimulation to one or more anatomical structures located in an ocular or nasal region. The electrical stimulation may elicit a reflex that activates the lacrimal gland or may directly activate the lacrimal gland or nerves innervating the lacrimal gland to produce tears. The devices may be implantable or handheld, and may be configured to deliver the spatially and/or temporally patterned stimulation patterns described. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160158548 | NASAL STIMULATION DEVICES AND METHODS - Described here are devices, systems, and methods for treating one or more conditions (such as dry eye) or improving ocular health by providing stimulation to nasal or sinus tissue. Generally, the devices may be handheld or implantable. In some variations, the handheld devices may have a stimulator body and a stimulator probe having one or more nasal insertion prongs. When the devices and systems are used to treat dry eye, nasal or sinus tissue may be stimulated to increase tear production, reduce the symptoms of dry eye, and/or improve ocular surface health. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20180021171 | NASOLACRIMAL IMPLANTS AND RELATED METHODS FOR TEAR STIMULATION | 01-25-2018 |
| 20190143116 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OCULAR MICROCURRENT STIMULATION THERAPY | 05-16-2019 |
