Patent ID: 7877148

Claim:
An extraocular device for use as a visual prosthesis, the device comprising: an array of electrodes embedded in a base member, the base member shaped for placement on an outer scleral surface of an eye of a subject, permitting intimate physical contact between the array of electrodes and the outer scleral surface of the eye of the subject; a stimulator programmed to provide an electrical pulse to the array of electrodes and the outer scleral surface of the eye, to stimulate discrete local areas of retinal tissue in the eye and to generate discrete phosphenes in the eye of the subject, thus providing a neuroprosthetic effect and enabling the subject to perceive discrete spots of light; and a conducting means for electrically connecting the array of electrodes to the stimulator; wherein the electrical pulse does not travel to any electrode located on an internal side of the sclera of the subject.