Vision regeneration assisting device

Abstract

A vision regeneration assisting device for regenerating vision by applying electrical stimulation to cells that form a retina, comprises: a plurality of electrodes: a bendable substrate having a first face on which the electrodes are disposed; and a holding portion provided on a second face of the substrate opposite to the first face, the holding portion holding an installation tool used when the substrate is installed in an eye. In this manner, the substrate having the electrodes disposed thereon can be easily installed in the eye.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are schematic views of an internal device of the vision regeneration assisting device;

FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3C are partial schematic views of an installation tool for installing a stimulation unit of the internal device into an eye;

FIG. 4 is a view of a state in which the stimulation unit has been installed in the eye; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a control system for the vision generation assisting device.

Claims

1. A vision regeneration assisting device for regenerating vision by applying electrical stimulation to cells that form a retina, the device comprising: a plurality of electrodes:a bendable substrate having a first face on which the electrodes are disposed; anda holding portion provided on a second face of the substrate that is opposite to the first face, the holding portion holding an installation tool that is used when the substrate is installed in an eye.

2. The vision regeneration assisting device corroding to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are disposed at a distal side of the first face, and the holding portion is provided at a distal side of the second face.

3. The vision regeneration assisting device according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion includes a pocket portion of which a distal side is closed, and the installation tool is inserted into the pocket portion through an opening thereof.

4. The vision regeneration assisting device according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion includes an engagement portion with which the installation tool becomes engaged when the substrate is moved into the eye, and the engagement portion prevents inward directional movement of the installation tool with respect to the substrate and enables outward directional movement of the installation tool with respect to the substrate.

5. The vision regeneration assisting device according to claim 4, wherein the engagement portion includes a pocket portion of which an inward directional side is closed and the installation tool is inserted into the pocket portion through an opening thereof.

6. The vision regeneration assisting device according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion includes has flexibility by which, when the substrate is installed, the holding portion is pressurized and flattened by intimate contact of biological tissues with the second face.