Implantible Multiple Unit Visual Prosthesis: Towards a Second and Third Generation

9808040刘the PI建议完成视网膜假体的构建，为患有视网膜色素性视网膜炎、老年性黄斑变性等疾病的视网膜杆锥变性致盲患者提供人工视力。该假体分为两部分，一部分在眼外获取、编码和传输图像，另一部分在眼内接收和解码图像数据，然后将所要求的刺激模式应用于视网膜。系统设计必须最小化功耗和生物相容性。外部部分由一副特殊的眼镜组成，眼镜上安装有微型摄像机、视频捕捉电路、电源和视频数据传输电路。电能通过一种类似于变压器的双线圈装置以无线方式传输到眼睛中的电子设备。在眼睛内部，设计了一个芯片，以这种方式刺激视网膜，形成20x20像素的图像。该芯片通过眼镜上的发射器无线接收能量和视频数据。该芯片的改进版本应该能够将操作状态发送回眼镜进行监控。芯片规格是基于约翰霍普金斯大学的初步生物测试。这种假肢的生物学测试将在约翰霍普金斯大学进行，测试对象是由于一种遗传性疾病而失明的狗，这种疾病会导致杆状体/锥体丧失，类似于人类的RP。＊＊＊

9808040 Liu The PI proposes to complete the construction of a retinal prosthesis designed to provide artificial vision to people blind due to the degeneration of retinal rod and cones, experienced in diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and age- related macular degeneration. The prosthesis is divided into two parts, one outside of the eye to acquire, code, and transmit an image, and the other inside the eye to receive and decode image data, and then apply the requested stimulation pattern to the retina. The system design must minimize power consumption and be biocompatible. The external portion consists of a special pair of glasses onto which is mounted a mini-camera, video-capture circuit, and power and video-data transmission circuit. Electrical power is transmitted wirelessly to the electronics in the eye using a two wire-coil arrangement similar to a transformer. Inside the eye, a chip has been designed to stimulate the retina in such a way as to form a 20x20 pixel image. This chip receives it's power and video-data wirelessly from a transmitter on the glasses. The improved version of this chip should be capable of sending operating-status back to the glasses for monitoring. Chip specifications are based on preliminary biological testing at Johns Hopkins. Biological testing of the prosthesis will take place at Johns Hopkins University, using dogs that are blind due to a genetic disorder that causes rod/cone loss similar to RP in humans. ***