KR20180121127A - Epiretinal prosthetic device and system simulating the physiological mechanism of retinal cells - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an epiretinal prosthetic device for stimulating an optic nerve in response to the visual information of an object captured by an external camera. The epiretinal prosthetic device includes a substrate provided on the epiretinal of a retina; an optical receiver positioned on the front surface of the substrate and receiving light emitted from the external camera and passing through a lens; and a plurality of needle electrodes positioned on the back surface of the substrate and fixing the substrate as it is inserted into the cell layer of the retina and stimulating bipolar cells in response to an optical signal received by the optical receiver. The needle electrode has a conical shape with a sharp end and a predetermined length and has an end reaching the bipolar cell layer of the retina to directly stimulate the bipolar cell. It is possible to realize a stimuli method for simulating a natural physiological mechanism.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to an epi-type artificial retina device and a system for simulating the physiological mechanism of a retinal cell,

The present invention relates to an artificial retina device and system for restoring the visual acuity of a user by inducing electric stimulation by being applied to the epiretinal layer of the retina, and in particular, it can simulate the physiological mechanism of retinal cells To an artificial retina device and system.

The retina is an important nerve tissue that converts the external image that enters through the cornea and lens into an electrical signal and transmits it to the brain. The area of the retina is about 6.25 cm 2, and about 100 million cells are present in the retina. The rod cells, which occupy the majority of the cytoskeleton, convert the image into an electrical signal, which enters the optic nerve and is transmitted to the brain at a speed of about 480 km / h. The brain interprets the minute electrical signals, grasps the images, and judges the objects. The retina is one of the tissues with the largest blood supply per unit area. It requires a lot of energy sources and the wastes generated as a byproduct of the chemical action must be removed smoothly. For any reason, abnormalities in the retinal blood vessels or choroidal blood vessels cause abnormalities in the retina, resulting in various diseases.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a progressive retinal degenerative disease caused by dysfunction of the photoreceptor distributed in the retina. The photoreceptor of the retina and the retinal pigment epithelium are the main lesions. . The prevalence rate of RP is reported to be 1 out of 5,000 worldwide. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the other retinal diseases, is one of the three major blindness disorders, and the prevalence of this disease is rapidly increasing due to the rapid aging of the population. It has been reported that patients with AMD have worsened their visual acuity in a relatively short period of time, unlike patients with low vision due to RP disease, and the degree of actual life impairment and psychological atrophy caused by eyes in AMD patients are larger than those of other diseases.

To treat patients with blindness, various therapies such as gene therapy, stem cells, and drug therapy have been attempted. However, most patients with blindness already have a retinal photoreceptor layer that has gone beyond the time of gene therapy or medication. However, in geriatric diseases such as RP and AMD, only the outer layer of the retina, the photoreceptor layer, is damaged. Therefore, it is a promising new therapy for artificial retina that induces electrical stimulation to the optic layer of the retina for blind patients to restore visual acuity.

FIG. 1 shows an anatomical structure of a retina for explaining the positions where epi-type artificial retina devices and sub-artificial retina devices are described. Referring to FIG. 1, the artificial retina can be classified into an epi-retinal and a sub-retinal depending on the installed position. The epi-type artificial retina is located in front of the retina and the sub-type artificial retina is located in the posterior retina of the retina. In FIG. 1, the position of the epi-type artificial retina is labeled with B, and the position of the sub-artificial retina is labeled with C.

The epi-type artificial retina stimulates the ganglion cell layer in the retinal cells and the sub artificial retina stimulates the bipolar cell layer in the posterior. In the epi-type artificial retina, the neural cell stimulator is located in the anterior part of the retina. Therefore, the epi-type artificial retina is provided with an external camera separately. The external camera is attached to the glasses. The image information obtained from the camera reaches the intraocular microelectrode array wirelessly through the induction coil, and the retinal ganglion cells retinal ganglion.

On the other hand, the threshold value in response to electric stimulation differs depending on the patient, and the magnitude of electric stimulation to be applied according to the retinal cell damage region is also different. The epi-type artificial retina is a method of independently controlling the electrodes in the external image processor. Therefore, there is an advantage that the size of the electric pulse can be freely changed according to the patient or the damaged part.

As a conventional art of epi-type artificial retina, in the case of the second sight Argus II product sold in the United States, 64 electrodes can be independently controlled, and the magnitude of electrical stimulation generated from the electrodes can also be controlled. However, in the case of the conventional epi-type artificial retina, it is difficult to fix the electrode because the retina is very thin and weak. In addition, it is located inside the retina and can be exposed to the glass body cavity and surrounded by the fibrous tissue, and the electric stimulation may not be transmitted. In addition, when electrical stimulation is applied to the upper surface of the retina, it is difficult to improve the spatial resolution by stimulating the retinal nerve fiber layer and spreading the signal or stimulating cells of various layers of the retina at a time. Since the epi-type artificial retina can not utilize the signal processing process within the retina, the shape of the stimulating electrode grid and the shape actually felt by the patient may be different. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that a variety of parts and a signal transmitting part for connecting them are required rather than a sub-type artificial retina.

On the other hand, in the sub-type artificial retina, the photodiode array is located in the light receiving cell layer below the retinal cell layer. Subtype artificial retina is designed to simply replace the function of the photoreceptor, making bipolar cells the primary electrical stimulus target. To this end, the sub-type artificial retina is designed to integrate photodiodes for sensing light and electrodes for stimulation, and current from the photodiode flows directly to the electrodes to stimulate retinal nerve cells. The photodiode array performs similar functions as a CMOS image sensor. The magnitude of the dark current generated in each photodiode cell differs depending on the intensity of the light, and this current is changed into a bi-phased current pulse that acts as an active potential through the conversion circuit. The advantage of the sub-type artificial retina is that it uses a conventional visual pathway through the information processing of the bipolar cells and the inner retinal layer to make the object feel natural in its perception. In addition, the microelectrode array can be inserted into the eyeball, allowing for natural eye movements. This is because, in the case of a system equipped with a miniature camera, it is necessary to turn the head rather than the eye in the direction of the object It can be said that it has advantages in terms of being physiological and natural. In addition, since the number of pixels formed by the retinal stimulation method is the largest among the artificial retinas created so far, the possibility of implementing a high resolution is suggested.

The Alpha IMS model, commercialized by Retina Implant of Germany, has 1500 photodiode arrays and matching bi-phasic current generation arrays as a conventional technology for sub-type artificial retinas, but according to clinical trials, Type artificial retina.

On the other hand, since the epithelial artificial retina stimulates the ganglion cells, the electric signal to be stimulated is transmitted to the bipolar cells, and then the action potential voltage is changed to the ganglion cell, which is transmitted through the optic nerve to the brain. Therefore, a conventional epi-type artificial retina stimulating the ganglion must apply a high current to the electrode. In this case, since the impedance of the electrode increases in the highly integrated electrode array, if a high current passes through the electrode, a high voltage is generated in the electrode, which hinders the generation of the stimulation current pulse. In order to overcome the above limitations, a sub-type artificial retina has been developed. The sub-type artificial retina has similar advantages to the physiological mechanism by which photocells are stimulated by detecting photodiodes of light signals and converting them into electrical signals to stimulate bipolar cells. However, the sub-artificial retina has a disadvantage that it is difficult to operate, and a long cable must be connected to the rear of the ear for wireless power and data transmission. Also, it is difficult to accurately control contrast sensitivity with a photodiode. That is, there is a disadvantage that the edge detection capability of an object is reduced as compared with an epi-type artificial retina using a camera.

Thus, the applicant has devised a new type of epi-type artificial retina that is simple in operation, has a stimulation method similar to natural physiological mechanism, and can improve contrast sensitivity. Since the retina is very thin and fragile, there are no disadvantages of the epi-type artificial retina, which is difficult to fix at the time of surgery, and a prior patent suggesting a stimulation method similar to the natural physiological mechanism, and Korean Patent No. 10-1275215 .

Korean Patent No. 10-1275215

The present invention relates to an epi-type artificial retina having a stimulation mechanism similar to that of a sub-artificial retina, with a bipolar cell as a primary electrical stimulation target, and an epi-type artificial retina device and system capable of stimulating a natural physiological mechanism .

In addition, the present invention provides an epi-type artificial retina device capable of improving disadvantages of an epi-type artificial retina which is hard to fix and difficult to operate because the retina is very thin and weak and can secure stable spatial resolution with easy and stable operation of the electrode. And systems.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an epi-type artificial retina device for stimulating an optic nerve in response to time information of an object captured by an external camera, comprising: a substrate provided on an epiretinal of a retina; An optical receiver positioned on a front surface of the substrate and receiving light transmitted through the lens through the external camera; And a plurality of needle electrodes positioned on a back surface of the substrate and fixing the substrate as it is inserted into a cell layer of the retina and stimulating an anodic cell in response to an optical signal received by the optical receiver, Is characterized by being conical in shape with a sharp end and having a predetermined length and having an end reaching the anodic cell layer of the retina so that the anodic cell can be directly stimulated.

Preferably, the artificial retina device according to the present invention further comprises a demodulator which is located on the rear surface of the substrate and which restores the data of the external camera received by the optical receiver and distributes the recovered information to a plurality of the needle electrodes .

Preferably, the artificial retina device according to the present invention further comprises a cable for electrically connecting the optical receiver positioned on the front surface of the substrate and the demodulator disposed on the rear surface of the substrate, wherein the cable does not penetrate the substrate, And may connect the optical receiver and the demodulator along the surface of the substrate.

Preferably, the artificial retina device according to the present invention may further comprise a package guard coupled to wrap the side of the substrate to protect the cable via the outer circumference of the substrate.

Preferably, the artificial retina device according to the present invention includes: a power coil wound around an outer periphery of the substrate to generate AC power; And a rectifier located on the front surface of the substrate and converting the AC power generated from the power coil into a DC current.

Preferably, the artificial retina device according to the present invention further includes a voltage regulator which is disposed on a rear surface of the substrate and distributes power output from the rectifier to each of the plurality of arrayed needle electrodes.

Preferably, the needle electrode is formed to have a length of 160 to 240 탆 and inserted into the anodic cell layer before the cytoskeletal layer.

Preferably, the optical receiver is capable of receiving external visual information as infrared light.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an epi-type artificial retina system comprising: a camera module for capturing time information of a user ahead and outputting an optical signal corresponding to time information; And an epiretinal of the retina, an optical receiver positioned on the front surface of the substrate and receiving light transmitted through the lens through the camera module, and a light receiver disposed on the rear surface of the substrate, And an artificial retina device having a plurality of needle electrodes for fixing the substrate upon insertion and for stimulating anodic cells in response to an optical signal received by the optical receiver, And the end portion reaches the anodic cell layer of the retina so that the bipolar cells can be directly stimulated.

Preferably, the camera module digitizes the captured time information to enhance the edge of the object, and outputs the processed time information as infrared light to enter the user's lens.

Conventional epi-type artificial retina has been required to fix an electrode using a bioglue and a pushpin in order to attach the electrode to the periphery of the fovea. This has the disadvantage that the electrode is separated by an external impact.

Meanwhile, the present invention is a structure in which an optical receiver is disposed on a front surface of a substrate, and is contrasted with a structure of a conventional epi-type artificial retina in which an optical receiver and an electrode are disposed on a rear surface of a substrate. In the present invention, a needle electrode structure having a length of about 200 mu m is formed on the back surface of the substrate so that the synapse of the bipolar cells becomes a primary electric stimulation target. The needle electrode structure infiltrates into the cell layer of the weak retina so as to stably fix the substrate without a bioglass or tack pin, as well as to make the operation extremely easy and to allow the end of the needle to directly apply electrical stimulation to the synaptic layer of the bipolar cells do.

Conventional epi-type artificial retinas produce action potentials in the rods and cone cells of the cytoskeletal layer through bipolar cells in the retinal ganglion, and the action potential is transmitted through the optic nerve again through the bipolar cells. As shown in FIG. Therefore, it is one of the technical issues of the conventional epi-type artificial retina device that a high current is inevitably required due to stimulation of ganglion cells and a high voltage is generated at the electrode tip to inhibit the operation of the stimulator.

However, the present invention has a stimulation path similar to that of a subtype artificial retina which is inserted into the photoreceptor layer and directly stimulates the bipolar cells as action potentials. As described above, the present invention relates to an epi-type artificial retina device which can mimic a natural physiological mechanism even in the epi-type artificial retina device and does not require generation of high-voltage power to directly stimulate a bipolar cell, There is an advantage that the reliability of the stimulator can be assured while the manufacturing cost is significantly reduced.

FIG. 1 shows an anatomical structure of a retina for explaining the positions where epi-type artificial retina devices and sub-artificial retina devices are described.
2 illustrates an artificial retina system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 shows an artificial retina device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 shows a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to or limited by the exemplary embodiments. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote members performing substantially the same function.

The objects and effects of the present invention can be understood or clarified naturally by the following description, and the purpose and effect of the present invention are not limited by the following description. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

FIG. 2 shows an artificial retina system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows an artificial retina device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the artificial retina system may include a camera module 30 to be worn by a user and an artificial retina device 10 to be implanted into a retina.

The eye has a structure including the retina (5), nerve tissue (7), choroid, sclera, cornea (1), pupil (3), iris and ciliary body. As described above, the epi-type artificial retina device is located in front of the retina 5, and the sub-artificial retina device is located behind the retina 5. The retina 5 is composed of a multilayer structure of ganglion cells, amacrine cells, bipolar cells, horizontal cells, rod cones and pigment epithelium. In FIG. 1, the retina 5 is divided into a retinal nerve cell layer 51, an anodic cell layer 53, and a rodcon 55 layer.

The artificial retinal device 10 according to the present embodiment can be classified into an epi-type artificial retina since the position to be used is an epiretinal of the retina, but the artificial retina can be divided into a different type of artificial retina Structure. In the case of a conventional epi-type artificial retina, both the light receiver and the electrode portion are disposed on the rear surface of the substrate to stimulate the retinal nerve cell layer 51. The artificial retina device 10 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the optical receiver 103 and the electrode 107 are separated from each other on the front and back sides of the substrate and the primary stimulus is applied to the anodic cell layer 53, And has an electrode 107 for applying a voltage. Hereinafter, each configuration of the artificial retina device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

The artificial retinal device 10 includes a substrate 101, an optical receiver 103, a rectifier 105, a needle electrode 107, a cable 108, a package guard 109, a power coil 110, a demodulator 111, And a voltage regulator 113.

The substrate 101 can be understood as a main board of an artificial retina device provided in the epi layer of the retina. The substrate 101 is provided with an optical receiver 103, a rectifier 105, a needle electrode 107, a cable 108, a package guard 109, a power coil 110, a demodulator 111 and a voltage regulator 113 The configurations can be integrated. The substrate 101 may be provided with a material having a predetermined flexibility. In this embodiment, the substrate 101 may be fabricated as a silicon chip through a semiconductor process. The size of the substrate 101 may be about 5 mm x 5 mm in consideration of the area of the retina.

The substrate 101 receives time information from an external camera 30 and receives driving power through a power coil 110 wound on the outside of the substrate 101. Since the optical receiver 103 is disposed on the front surface of the substrate 101 and the needle electrode 107 for stimulating is arranged on the rear surface of the substrate 101, the output signal of the optical receiver 103 generated at the front surface is transmitted to the needle electrode 107 Be able to. However, since the substrate 101 is small in size due to its characteristics and is made of a silicon chip, the risk of breakage and manufacturing cost may be drastically increased when the holes are drilled to connect the two structures. The substrate 101 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the cable 108 connects the optical receiver 103 and the needle electrode 107 via the outside of the substrate 101, The package guard 109 is required on the outside of the substrate 101.

The optical receiver 103 is located on the front surface of the substrate 101 and can receive the light emitted from the external camera 30 and transmitted through the lens 3. The optical receiver 103 may include a plurality of photodiodes in the form of an array and receive a compressed signal processed by the digital camera 30 from the external camera 30.

In this embodiment, the optical receiver 103 can receive external time information as infrared light. The optical receiver 103 may receive visible light, but has a disadvantage that it is not good for a user or a third party due to the light that is constantly turned on when the transmission / reception with the external camera 30 is made of visible light. Accordingly, it is preferable that the external camera 30 also transmit an optical signal to the infrared region, and the optical receiver 103 is also provided with an IR optical receiver including an infrared sensor so as to produce a natural aesthetic appearance.

The needle electrode 107 is positioned on the rear surface of the substrate 101 and fixes the substrate 101 as it is inserted into the cell layer of the retina and fixes the anode cell 53 in response to the optical signal received by the optical receiver 103 It can stimulate. It is noted that the needle electrode 107 has a conical shape with a sharp end and has a predetermined length and the end reaches the anodic cell layer 53 of the retina to directly stimulate the bipolar cells. A plurality of needle electrodes 107 may be arranged on the rear surface of the substrate to form arrayed stimulator regions.

The electrode structure according to this embodiment is particularly effective for reducing the ease of operation and manufacturing cost in the epi-type artificial retina. The conventional epi-type artificial retina stimulates the retinal nerve cell layer 51, so that a high current is required. More specifically, in a conventional epi-type artificial retina, a high voltage is applied to the output terminal of the stimulator, and a high voltage transistor must be used so as to withstand a high compliance voltage. This is disadvantageous in that the manufacturing cost is not only high but also the performance is deteriorated due to high mismatch. The needle electrode 107 according to the present embodiment is thin and elongated to reach the anode cell layer 53 through the retinal nerve cell layer 51 so that the needle electrode 107 needs a high current to directly stimulate the anode cell And no high compliance voltage is generated at the output of the stimulator array. Therefore, a general process transistor may be used for the artificial retina device 10 according to the present embodiment.

The needle electrode 107 is preferably inserted to the point where the synapse of the anodic cell layer 53 before the osteocyte layer 55 is located. Typically, the length from the retinal nerve cell layer 51 to the end of the anodic cell layer 53 is about 200 μm to 250 μm. Therefore, the needle electrode 107 according to the present embodiment is formed to have a length of 160 to 240 mu m so that the length of the rod cone 55 is not infiltrated and can stimulate the synapse of the anode cell layer 53 .

3 (a) is a front perspective view of the artificial retina device 10 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 (b) is a rear perspective view of the artificial retina device 10 according to the present embodiment. The elongated shape of the needle electrode 107 is omitted in order to understand the rear surface arrangement of the substrate 101 in Fig. 3 (b). 3, the needle electrodes 107 are arrayed on the rear surface of the substrate 101, receive signals from the optical receiver 103 through the demodulator 111, and receive the signals through the voltage regulator 113 The power for driving is distributed.

The demodulator 111 is located on the rear side of the substrate 101 and restores the data of the external camera 30 received by the optical receiver 103 and distributes the restored information to the plurality of needle electrodes 107 arranged . The demodulator 111 may include a circuit capable of generating a current based on the recovered signal. The demodulator 111 may generate a bi-phasic current having two phases, cathode and anode, for balancing the charge to be delivered to the nerve. The bi-phasic current to be discharged at the end of the needle electrode 107 can be balanced so that the negative charge and the positive charge are canceled so that any one polarity charge is not accumulated in the optic nerve 7. The conversion circuit of the demodulator 111 that outputs the active potential in the form of a bi-phasetic current may be used in a conventional circuit structure.

The rectifier 105 is disposed on the front surface of the substrate 101 and can convert AC power generated in the power coil 110 to DC. The rectifier 105 may include a DC conversion device such as a Schottky diode and a capacitor, and is preferably implemented using a discrete device in consideration of the difficulty of being on-chip by a semiconductor process. The rectifier 105 is positioned on the front surface of the substrate 101 that is not inserted into the cell layer of the retina, and performs stable signal processing. The power output from the rectifier 105 can be transmitted through the cable 108 to the backside of the substrate 101.

The power coil 110 may be wound around the outer periphery of the substrate 101 to generate AC power. The wound position may be wound on the substrate 101 on the inner side of the eyeball, but may be wound around the outer side of the eyeball for convenience of operation. The power coil 110 may be an RF coil. The power coil 110 may receive external wireless power that is externally supplied. Since the power coil 110 can receive a large amount of flux as its diameter increases, efficiency is improved and it is particularly suitable as a power supply means of the artificial retina device 10. [

The voltage regulator 113 is disposed on the rear surface of the substrate 101 and is capable of distributing the power output from the rectifier 105 to the respective ends of the plurality of needle electrodes 107 arranged. In this embodiment, the distribution voltage of the voltage regulator 113 may be significantly lower than the conventional compliance voltage because the reason is that it is in accordance with the structure of the needle electrode 107 that directly stimulates the anodic cell layer 53 same.

The cable 108 can electrically connect the optical receiver 103 located on the front side of the substrate 101 and the demodulator 111 located on the back side of the substrate 101. The cable 108 can connect the optical receiver 103 and the demodulator 111 along the surface of the substrate 101 without penetrating the substrate 101. [

The cable 108 can also electrically connect the rectifier 105 located on the front side of the substrate 101 and the voltage regulator 113 located on the rear side of the substrate 101. The cable 108 may connect the rectifier 105 and the voltage regulator 113 along the surface of the substrate 101 without passing through the substrate 101 in this case.

A cable 108 for connecting the optical receiver 103 and the demodulator 111 is referred to as a first cable 108 (a) and a cable for connecting the rectifier 105 and the voltage regulator 113 108 is referred to as a second cable 108 (b).

The first and second cables 108 are connected to the rear demodulator 111 and the voltage regulator 113 in such a manner that the substrate 101 is wound in a half turn as shown in FIGS. . This can be understood as considering the manufacturing cost of the substrate 101 which is difficult to be punctured. In other words, in the artificial retina device 10 according to the present embodiment, essential components are separated from each other on the front surface and the rear surface of the substrate 101 in consideration of the characteristics of the deeply inserted electrode structure. It is preferable that the lower surface cable 108 does not penetrate the substrate 101 but connects the front surface and the rear surface of the substrate 101 to the side surface of the substrate 101. The artificial retina device 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with a package guard 109 which is a package guard 109, The bracket configuration performs the above functions.

The package guard 109 may be coupled to enclose the side of the substrate 101 to protect the cable 108 via the outer perimeter of the substrate 101. The package guard 109 can be provided in the same silicon material as the substrate 101 and secures and protects the cable 108 while insulating the substrate 101 more stably.

4 shows a camera module 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the camera module 30 can capture the time information in front of the user and output an optical signal corresponding to the time information. The camera module 30 may include a camera 301 for capturing an image, a signal processing unit 303, and an optical transmitter 305.

The camera 301 captures an external video signal, and a CCD camera, a CMOS camera, or the like can be used. The camera 301 can be constructed in a modular fashion on a mechanism that the user wears, such as glasses.

The signal processing unit 303 processes the time information captured by the camera 301 by digital signal processing to enhance the edge of the object and transmit the processed time information to the optical transmitter 305. [ The signal processing unit 303 can convert image information captured by the camera 301 into image information. The signal processing unit 303 may perform an additional signal processing process of the converted image information and may emphasize an edge of an object in the image as an example.

The optical transmitter 305 can transmit light with an intensity corresponding to the corresponding pixel of the image information transmitted from the signal processing unit 303. [ The light output from the optical transmitter 305 can be transmitted through the user's lens 3 and incident on the optical receiver 103 of the artificial retina apparatus 10. [

In this embodiment, the optical transmitter 305 may output the time information received by the signal processing unit 303 as infrared light and enter the user's lens 3. As described in the embodiment of the optical receiver 103, when the light emitted by the optical transmitter 305 is visible light, the user or the third party recognizes the light continuously lighting in the camera module 30 of the glasses worn by the user . Since the optical transmitter 305 transmits an optical signal to the infrared region and the optical receiver 103 is also provided with an IR optical receiver including an infrared sensor, it is preferable that the optical transmitter 305 is designed to produce a natural aesthetic appearance Do.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. will be. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, but should be determined by all changes or modifications derived from the scope of the appended claims and equivalents of the following claims.

1: cornea
3: pupil
5: retina
7: optic nerve
10: Epi-type artificial retinal device
101: substrate
103: Optical receiver
105: Rectifier
107: Needle electrode
108: Cable
109: Package Guard
110: Power coil
111: Demodulator
113: Voltage regulator
30: Camera module
301: Camera
303: Signal processor
305: Optical transmitter
51: retinal nerve cell
53: bipolar cells
55: Road cone

Claims (11)

An epi-type artificial retina device for stimulating an optic nerve in response to visual information of an object captured by an external camera,
A substrate provided on an epiretinal of the retina;
An optical receiver positioned on a front surface of the substrate and receiving light transmitted through the lens through the external camera; And
And a plurality of needle electrodes positioned on a rear surface of the substrate and fixing the substrate as it is inserted into the cell layer of the retina and stimulating the anodic cells in response to the optical signal received by the optical receiver,
The needle electrode
And the end portion reaches a bipolar cell layer of the retina in a conical shape having a sharp end and a predetermined length so that the bipolar cells can be directly stimulated.
The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a demodulator located at a rear surface of the substrate and for restoring data of the external camera received by the optical receiver and distributing the recovered information to a plurality of the needle electrodes arrayed.
3. The method of claim 2,
Further comprising a cable for electrically connecting the optical receiver positioned on the front surface of the substrate to the demodulator located on the rear surface of the substrate,
The cable,
And connects the optical receiver and the demodulator along the surface of the substrate without penetrating the substrate.
3. The method of claim 2,
Further comprising: a package guard coupled to surround a side of the substrate to protect the cable via an outer perimeter of the substrate.
The method according to claim 1,
A power coil wound around the outer periphery of the substrate to generate AC power; And
And a rectifier disposed on a front surface of the substrate and converting an AC power generated from the power coil into a direct current.
6. The method of claim 5,
Further comprising a voltage regulator located at a rear surface of the substrate and distributing the power output from the rectifier to each of the plurality of arrayed needle electrodes.
The method according to claim 1,
The needle electrode
And a length of 160 탆 to 240 탆 and inserted into the anodic cell layer before the cytoskeleton layer.
The method according to claim 1,
The optical receiver includes:
Wherein the external visual information is received by infrared light.
In an epi-type artificial retina system,
A camera module for capturing time information in front of a user and outputting an optical signal corresponding to time information; And
A substrate provided on an epiretinal of the retina,
An optical receiver positioned on the front surface of the substrate and receiving light transmitted through the lens through the camera module,
And an artificial retina device having a plurality of needle electrodes which are positioned on the rear surface of the substrate and fix the substrate as it is inserted into a cell layer of the retina and stimulate an anodic cell in response to an optical signal received by the optical receiver,
The needle electrode
And the end portion reaches a bipolar cell layer of the retina so that the bipolar cells can be directly stimulated.
10. The method of claim 9,
The camera module includes:
Wherein the captured time information is subjected to digital signal processing to enhance the edge of the object, and the time information processed by the signal processing is output as infrared light to enter the user's lens.
10. The method of claim 9,
The artificial retina device comprises:
Wherein the needle electrode is formed to have a length of 160 탆 to 240 탆 and inserted into the anodic cell layer prior to the photoreceptor layer.

Images