Vision regeneration assisting device

Abstract

A vision regeneration assisting device for regenerating vision of a patient, comprising: a plurality of electrodes which are stuck and placed into an optic disc of the patient; a setting unit with which first output conditions for an electrical stimulation pulse signal from at least one of the electrodes are set variably; a storage unit which stores a generation position of a phosphene specific to the patient in association with the first output conditions for the stimulation signal that has caused to generate the phosphene, the storage unit storing various first output conditions for the stimulation signals and the generation positions of the phosphenes caused by the stimulation signals based on the various first output conditions in association with each other; a processor which sets second output conditions for the stimulation signal based on image data obtained by an external photography unit and the generation positions of the phosphenes stored in the storage unit, and converts the obtained image data into data for the stimulation signal based on the set second output conditions; and a controller which controls output of the stimulation signal from at least one of the electrodes based on the converted stimulation signal data. In this manner electrical stimulation is applied through the optic disc under applying conditions that are suitable for an individual patient so as to regenerate the patient's vision.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a user state of a vision regeneration assisting device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting a schematic construction of the vision regeneration assisting device;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a setting section for setting output conditions for an electrical stimulation pulse signal;

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are views of a state in which electrodes are placed;

FIG. 5 is a view of an example of displaying positions at which phosphenes have generated on a chart and recording the generation positions;

FIG. 6 is a view of a change in generation positions of phosphenes, the change being caused by a difference in positions at which electrodes are placed;

FIG. 7 is a view of a change in generation positions of phosphenes, the change being caused by a difference in output conditions for an electrical stimulation pulse signal from an electrode; and

FIG. 8 is a view of a change in generation positions of phosphenes, the chance being caused by a difference in a combination of electrodes that are made to output electrical stimulation pulse signals at the same time.

Claims

1. A vision regeneration assisting device for regenerating vision of a patient, comprising: a plurality of electrodes which are stuck and placed into an optic disc of the patient;a setting unit with which first output conditions for an electrical stimulation pulse signal from at least one of the electrodes are set variably;a storage unit which stores a generation position of a phosphene specific to the patient in association with the first output conditions for the stimulation signal that has caused to generate the phosphene, the storage unit storing various first output conditions for the stimulation signals and the generation positions of the phosphenes caused by the stimulation signals based on the various first output conditions in association with each other;a processor which sets second output conditions for the stimulation signal based on image data obtained by an external photography unit and the generation positions of the phosphenes stored in the storage unit, and converts the obtained image data into data for the stimulation signal based on the set second output conditions; anda controller which controls output of the stimulation signal from at least one of the electrodes based on the converted stimulation signal data.

2. The vision regeneration assisting device according to claim 1, wherein the processor extracts an optimal generation position among the stored generation positions of the phosphenes based on the obtained image data, and sets the first output conditions associated with the extracted generation position to the second output conditions.

3. The vision regeneration assisting device according to claim 1, wherein the output conditions for the stimulation signal include at least two among a current value, a frequency and a pulse width of the stimulation signal.

4. The vision regeneration assisting device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit includes a display unit and an input unit for mapping the generation positions of the phosphenes.