Retinal stimulator

A system for stimulating physiologically excitable cells of a retina of an eye, said system comprising:

• an image processor for processing a captured image into an array of discrete pixels, each having a particular intensity,
• an encoder for encoding said array of discrete pixels into an encoded data signal,
• a transmitter for transmitting the encoded data signal in sequential bursts, to a receiver within the eye for receiving the encoded data signal transmitted from the transmitter,
• a decoder within the eye for converting the encoded data signal received by the receiver into stimulus signals, and
• a stimulator within the eye for selectively stimulating the physiologically excitable cells of the retina as a function of the stimulus signals.

A system for stimulating physiologically excitable cells of a retina of an eye, said system comprising:

• an image processor for processing a captured image into an array of discreet pixels, each having a particular intensity,
• an encoder for encoding said array of discrete pixels into an encoded data signal,
• a transmitter for transmitting the encoded data signal in sequential bursts to a receiver within the eye for receiving the encoded data signal transmitted from the transmitter,
• a decoder within the eye for converting the encoded data signal received by the receiver into stimulus signals whenever a pre-determined data protocol associated with encoded data signal is satisfied, and
• a stimulator within the eye for selectively stimulating the physiologically excitable cells of the retina as a function of the stimulus signals.

A system for stimulating the physiologically excitable cells of a retina of an eye, said system comprising:

• an image processor for processing a captured image into an array of discreet pixels, each having a particular intensity,
• an encoder for encoding said array of discreet pixels into an encoded data signal,
• a transmitter for transmitting the encoded data signal in sequential bursts to a receiver within the eye for receiving the encoded data signal transmitted from the transmitter,
• a decoder within the eye for converting'the encoded data signal received by the receiver into stimulus signals, and
• a stimulator within the eye for selectively stimulating the physiologically excitable cells of the retina as a function of the stimulus signals and for charge balancing said stimulation signal by grouping each of said electrodes into two or more groups and providing each group with a series arranged capacitive element.

A method of enabling a phosphene to be produced, in response to stimulation of nerve cells in a being, said method comprising the steps of.

• obtaining and dividing a visual image into an array of discrete regions,
• extracting visually related intensity data for each of said discrete regions,
• producing a sequence of encoded image data comprising at least, said intensity data and a unique address for each of said regions,
• transmitting said encoded image data over a tuned inductive link,
• receiving and decoding said image data into a plurality of stimulus signals having both position and intensity attributes, and
• applying said stimulus signals to nerve cells which are capable of producing the phosphene.

A method of stimulating a retina of an eye to generate a psychophysical response, said method comprising the steps of:

• processing a captured image into an array of discrete pixels, each having a particular intensity,
• encoding said array of discrete pixels into an encoded data signal;
• transmitting the encoded data signal in sequential bursts, to a receiver within the eye,
• receiving the encoded data signal by said receiver and converting the encoded data signal into stimulus signals;
• and
• selectively stimulating the retina as a function of the stimulus signals.