Title :
Optical signal and energy transmission for a retina implant
Author :
Gross, M. ; Buss, R. ; Kohler, K. ; Schaub, J. ; Jäger, D.
Author_Institution :
FG Optoelektronik, Duisburg Univ., Germany
Abstract :
Presents the development of a signal and energy transmission technique for a retina implant. This implant, called retina stimulator (RS), is part of a system designed to provide artificial vision for blind persons suffering from retinal defects, especially retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The system consists of two parts, a retina encoder (RE) outside the eye and the RS implanted onto the retina. This RS is provided with digital signals and energy via free space optical transmission at data rates of 200 kbit/s together with electrical power of 5 mW, respectively. An array of photovoltaic cells (PVC) monolithically integrated with a photodiode is used as energy and signal receiver. A receiver circuit powered by the PVC-array is developed and manufactured. It transforms the output of the photodiode into TTL-compatible data suitable for further digital processing
Keywords :
biomedical electronics; eye; neurophysiology; optical arrays; photodiodes; photovoltaic cells; prosthetics; sensory aids; vision defects; 5 mW; PVC-array; artificial vision; blind persons; digital signals; energy transmission; free space optical transmission; optical signal transmission; photodiode output; photovoltaic cells array; receiver circuit; retina encoder; retina implant; retinal defects; retinitis pigmentosa; Biomedical optical imaging; Circuits; Diseases; Implants; Manufacturing; Optical receivers; Optical sensors; Photodiodes; Pigmentation; Retina;
Conference_Titel :
[Engineering in Medicine and Biology, 1999. 21st Annual Conference and the 1999 Annual Fall Meetring of the Biomedical Engineering Society] BMES/EMBS Conference, 1999. Proceedings of the First Joint
Conference_Location :
Atlanta, GA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-5674-8
DOI :
10.1109/IEMBS.1999.802554
