The present invention relates to a photosensitive pixel structure (10). The pixel structure (10) comprises a substrate (15) and at least one photosensitive diode (12, 12′, 12″), a stimulating electrode (14), and a resistor (16). The resistor (16) is electrically connecting the stimulating electrode (14) and a counter electrode (18). Further, the resistor (16) is at least partially covered by the stimulating electrode (14) and/or the resistor (16) is at least partially covered by the counter electrode (18).

A balloon type retinal stimulation device includes: a substrate unit having an insertion portion to be inserted into an eyeball; and a stimulation unit provided at one or both of one and the other surfaces of the substrate unit. The insertion portion is expandable and contractible as a fluid is injected into and discharged from an inside of the injection portion. When the insertion portion expands, one surface of the insertion portion matches a shape of the retina such that the stimulation unit is brought into close contact with the retina on which an image is formed, and the other surface of the insertion portion comes into close contact with an inner surface of the eyeball that is not a region of retina on which an image is formed, to support the insertion portion that is in contact with the region of retina on which an image is formed.

A lens including a flexible refractive optic having a fixed refractive index, an electro active element embedded within the flexible refractive optic, wherein the electro-active element has an alterable refractive index, and a controller electrically, connected to the electro-active element wherein when power is applied thereto the refractive index of the electro-active element is altered.

A method of at least partially fitting a hearing prosthesis device to a recipient, including obtaining access to a sensory prosthesis that has been used to evoke a sensory percept using a first focusing regime for a temporal period corresponding to at least acclimation to the first focusing regime and adjusting a control setting of the prosthesis to increase focusing relative to that which is the case with respect to the first focusing regime, wherein the action of adjusting the control setting includes purposely adjusting the control setting to have focusing that is effectively less focused than a maximum focus possible.

A system and method are disclosed for causing or enhancing the perception of color in a blind or visually impaired person. The system may comprise: an electromagnetic stimulation device associated with the blind or visually impaired person; and a visualization device for receiving an image and detecting a color of an object in the image, wherein the electromagnetic stimulation device is configured to stimulate the blind or visually impaired person based on a parameter of electromagnetic stimulation that varies based on the color detected by the visualization device. The method may comprise: varying a parameter of electromagnetic stimulation of an electromagnetic stimulation device, associated with an eye of the blind or visually impaired person, based on which color is detected by a visualization device that is used in conjunction with the electromagnetic stimulation device; and stimulating the eye with the electromagnetic stimulation device according to the parameter of electromagnetic stimulation.

Embodiments may provide improved visual prosthesis to restore functional vision in those with partial or total blindness. In an embodiment, a system for artificial vision may comprise a camera adapted to obtain visual information corresponding to a field of view of a person, processing circuitry adapted to transform the obtained visual information to control signals for controlling artificial visual stimulation, communication circuitry adapted to transmit the control signals to an implanted device to perform artificial visual stimulation, and an implant device adapted to be implanted within a body of the person for interacting with brain tissue to perform artificial visual stimulation, wherein the implant device is adapted to receive the control signals, generate stimulation signals based on the control signals, and apply the stimulation signals to neural tissue, wherein the implant device is further adapted to apply stimulation to at least 100,000 sites of the neural tissue..

A three-dimensional retinal stimulation device includes a substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of edges connecting the top surface and the bottom surface to each other; and a plurality of electrodes disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the plurality of edges include inclined surfaces with respect to the top surface and the bottom surface.

A handheld implantation device for implantation of a retinal tissue implant at an implantation site. The handheld implantation device includes a handheld implantation tool having a leading implantation tool end and a trailing implantation tool end, an implant holder for peripherally holding a retinal tissue implant including an uppermost viable retinal tissue and a lowermost basement membrane and a clinician-operated attachment arrangement for initial attaching the implant holder at the leading implantation tool end and subsequent selected detaching the implant holder therefrom at the implantation site for implantation of the implant holder together with the retinal tissue implant thereat.

A polymer-based optoelectronic interface comprises an elastomeric substrate (10) and a plurality of discrete photovoltaic pixel elements (20) disposed on top of the substrate. Each pixel element comprises at least one active layer comprising a semiconducting polymer or polymer mixture. The pixel elements are excitable by light to generate an electric signal via a photovoltaic process. For mechanically protecting the pixel elements, an elastomeric encapsulation layer (30) can be disposed on top of the substrate, the encapsulation layer defining access openings (31) for the pixel elements (20). Pillar-like structures (40) can be disposed on the pixel elements. Methods for fabricating such an optoelectronic interface are also disclosed. The optoelectronic interface can be used as a retinal prosthesis.

An artificial retinal prosthesis is disclosed, which comprises a plurality of pixel group units to output a spatiotemporal electrical stimulation for inducing color perception. Each of the pixel group units comprises a main pixel unit and at least one surrounding pixel unit. The main pixel unit and the surrounding pixel unit respectively outputs an electrical stimulation waveform according to a first stimulation cycle and a second stimulation cycle. Both of the first stimulation cycle and the second stimulation cycle have a first-half duration and a second-half duration. The first-half duration of the first stimulation cycle has inactive period greater than 20% and less than 80% and the rest of the first stimulation cycle is active period. The second-half duration of the first stimulation cycle is inactive period. The first-half duration of the second stimulation cycle is active period and the second-half duration of the second stimulation cycle is inactive period.