Patent ID: 8244362
Filing Date: 2012-08-14
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A vision regeneration assisting apparatus for assisting a regeneration of a vision of a patient, comprising: a plurality of electrodes which are adapted to be placed in a human body of the patient to apply an electrostimulation pulse signal to a cell that forms a retina of the patient; a controller configured to apply power supply voltage to the plurality of electrodes to cause the plurality of electrodes to output the electrostimulation pulse signal having bipolarity; and a multiplexer configured to sequentially cause the plurality of electrodes to apply the electrostimulation pulse signal, wherein the controller comprises: a capacitor connected to the multiplexer and adapted to accumulate a current which flows through the electrodes when the power supply voltage is applied to the electrodes and convert the current into a voltage, the current being used for the electrostimulation pulse signal for stimulating the cell of the retina; a converting circuit configured to generate a stimulation strength instruction voltage value corresponding to a strength of the electrostimulation pulse signal; a voltage detecting circuit which comprises a first comparator coupled to the converting circuit and the capacitor and configured to compare the voltage of the capacitor with the stimulation strength instruction voltage value which, and a second comparator coupled to the capacitor and configured to detect a decrease in the voltage of the capacitor; and a switching circuit coupled to the detecting circuit and configured to connect a power supply source of a first polarity to one of the electrodes to allow the current of the first polarity to flow in the electrodes until the voltage of the capacitor reaches the stimulation strength instruction voltage value, based on the comparison result of the first comparator, and connect a power supply source of a second polarity to the one of the electrodes to allow the current having the second polarity, which is opposite to the first polarity, to flow in the electrodes until the voltage of the capacitor is substantially reset to 0 based on the detection result of the second comparator.