Patent ID: 6920358
Filing Date: 2005-07-19
Classification: A61N,G06T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for providing vision to a visually-impaired patient, said apparatus comprising: a high resolution optical input device for receiving an optical signal and providing a video signal in response thereto; a video processor for receiving said video signal as an array of pixels, wherein said video processor selects subsets of said input pixels and processes said selected subsets to determine an output pixel value for each said selected subset and wherein said pixels that are selected to form said subsets are periodically altered; an array of electrodes configured for implantation proximate to the retina of the visually-impaired patient, wherein said electrodes respond to electrical signals for stimulating neural pathways at the patient's retina to generate a pixelated image; said pixelated image having a resolution of no more than one fourth of the image resolution available from said high resolution optical input device; and a display driver providing electrical signals for driving said array of electrodes in response to said processed pixel values from said video processor.