421 results about "Optic nerve" patented technology

The present disclosure provides an ophthalmology implant and methods for treating glaucoma or optic neural transmission deficiency, wherein at least a portion of the implant is made of or includes a nanometer-sized substance, such as nanotubes, nanofibers, sheets from nanotubes, nanowires, nanofibrous mesh and the like.

An apparatus and method for safely cannulating a blood vessels, including but not limited retinal blood vessels, is described. In one embodiment, the apparatus can consist of a micropipette / microcannula, micromanipulator and positioner mounted to a base, which is attached to a wrist rest commonly used in eye surgery. The micropipette / microcannula is connected to tubing such that a medication may be injected through the micropipette / microcannula into the blood vessel or conversely, a small quantity of material may be removed from a blood vessel. Alternatively, a catheter, wire or stent may be placed through the micropipette / microcannula to treat or diagnose an area remote from the insertion site. The ability to cannulate a retinal blood vessel should be efficacious in the treatment of vein and artery occlusion, ocular tumors and other retinal, vascular and optic nerve disorders that would benefit from diagnosis and / or treatment. In another embodiment, a self-sealing needle is provided which allows the perforation of a blood vessel or other structure and the minimization of hemorrhaging when the needle is withdrawn from the blood vessel / structure. Another embodiment discloses an ocular implant needle.

An improved prosthesis and method for stimulating vision nerves to obtain a vision sensation that is useful for the patient that has lost vision due to AMD, RP, and other diseases. The invention utilizes infrared light to cause action potentials in the retinal nerves similar to those which result from rods and cones stimulated by visible light in healthy retinas. In some embodiments, the invention provides a prosthesis that generates a stimulation pattern of infrared light from an external stimulator array through the eye and focusing the stimulation pattern of infrared light on the retina, especially the fovea. Some embodiments the invention provides improved resolution down to a group of nerves, or even the individual nerve level, with sufficient energy density so as to cause a desired action potential.

A method, code and system for planning the treatment a lesion on or adjacent to the retina of an eye of a patient are disclosed. There is first established at least two beam paths along which x-radiation is to be directed at the retinal lesion. Based on the known spectral and intensity characteristics of the beam, a total treatment time for irradiation along each beam paths is determined. From the coordinates of the optic nerve in the aligned eye position, there is determined the extent and duration of eye movement away from the aligned patient-eye position in a direction that moves the patient's optic nerve toward the irradiation beam that will be allowed during treatment, while still maintaining the radiation dose at the patient optic nerve below a predetermined dose level.

A flexible circuit electrode array comprising:a polymer base layer;metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue;a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; anda central opening in the area of the metal traces.A flexible circuit electrode array comprising:a polymer base layer;metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue;a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; anda soft polymer filling an attachment point.A flexible circuit electrode array comprising:a polymer base layer;metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue;a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; anda hump to avoid a touching of the flexible electrode array and the optic nerve.

Methods and devices for delivering therapeutic substances into the eye. An implant containing the therapeutic substance is implanted at least partially within the optic nerve and the therapeutic substance then elutes from the implant. The implant may have a lumen or it may be solid.

A fully automated optic nerve head assessment system, based on spectral domain optical coherence tomography, provides essential disc parameters for clinical analysis, early detection, and monitoring of progression.

Methods and devices are provided for targeted administration of a drug to a patient's eye. In one embodiment, the method includes inserting a hollow microneedle into the sclera of the eye at an insertion site and infusing a fluid drug formulation through the inserted microneedle and into the suprachoroidal space of the eye, wherein the infused fluid drug formulation flows within the suprachoroidal space away from the insertion site during the infusion. The fluid drug formulation may flow circumferentially toward the retinochoroidal tissue, macula, and optic nerve in the posterior segment of the eye.

A method and means for delivery of drugs to the chorio-retina and the optic nerve head which comprises contacting the surface of the eye with an effective amount of drug for treatment of chorio-retina and optic nerve head and a physiologically acceptable adrenergic agent for enhancing delivery of the drug to these tissues in an ophtalmologically acceptable carrier, said adrenergic agent being selected from the group consisting of alpha adrenergic agonist agents, derivatives of the alpha adrenergic agonist agents, beta-blocking agents, derivatives of the beta-blocking agents and mixtures thereof.

Methods, devices and systems for draining fluid from the eye and / or for reducing intraocular pressure. A passageway (e.g., an opening, puncture or incision) is formed in the lamina cribosa or elsewhere to facilitate flow of fluid from the posterior chamber of the eye to either a) a subdural location within the optic nerve or b) a location within the subarachnoid space adjacent to the optic nerve. Fluid from the posterior chamber then drains into the optic nerve or directly into the subarachnoid space, where it becomes mixed with cerebrospinal fluid. In some cases, a tubular member (e.g., a shunt or stent) may be implanted in the passageway. A particular shunt device and shunt-introducer system is provided for such purpose. A vitrectomy or vitreous liquefaction procedure may be performed to remove some or all of the vitreous body, thereby facilitating creation of the passageway and / or placement of the tubular member as well as establishing a route for subsequent drainage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber, though the posterior chamber and outwardly though the passageway where it becomes mixed with cerebrospinal fluid.

An apparatus and method for altering the electromagnetic environment of ophthalmic tissues, cells, and molecules comprising, establishing baseline thermal fluctuations in voltage and electrical impedance at a target pathway structure depending on a state of at least one of the ophthalmic tissue components, configuring at least one waveform to have sufficient signal to noise ratio to modulate at least one of ion and ligand interactions whereby the at least one of ion and ligand interactions are detectable in the target pathway structure above the established baseline thermal fluctuations in voltage and electrical impedance, generating an electromagnetic signal from the configured at least one waveform, and coupling the electromagnetic signal to the target pathway structure using a coupling device whereby enhancing the release of second messengers, such as NO, growth factors and cytokines at the target pathway structure. The use of the within specified electromagnetic waveforms can have particular utility in the prophylactic treatment of ophthalmic tissue and the treatment of ophthalmic diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinosa pigmentosa, repair and regeneration of optic nerve prophylaxis and other related diseases that respond positively to the physiological effects of these waveforms.

An object is to provide an artificial vision system ensuring a wide field of view without damaging a retina. In the artificial vision system, a plurality of electrodes (23) are to be implanted so as to stick in an optic papilla of an eye of a patient. A signal for stimulation pulse is generated based on an image captured by an image pick up device (11) to be disposed outside a body of the patient. The electrical stimulation signals outputted from the electrodes (23) based on the signals for stimulation pulse stimulate an optic nerve of the eye, thereby enabling the patient to visually recognize the image from the image pickup device (11).

Methods and devices for delivering therapeutic substances into the eye. An implant containing the therapeutic substance is implanted at least partially within the optic nerve and the therapeutic substance then elutes from the implant. The implant may have a lumen or it may be solid.

The present invention relates to a system for automatically evaluating oxygen saturation of the optic nerve and retina, said system comprising: image capturing system further comprising: a fundus camera (26), a four wavelengths beam splitter (27), a digital image capturing device (28), a computer system, image processing software performing in real-time the steps of: registering set of multi-spectral images (1) by, binarizing the multi-spectral image (7), find the all the border regions of each image by finding the region including the straight line that passes the most number of points in the region (8), use the orientation of the borders to evaluate the orientation of each spectral image (9), equalize the orientation of each spectral image by rotating the spectral image (10), edge detect each spectral image (11), estimate the translation between the spectral images based on the edges of adjacent images (12), transform the images to a stack of registered images (13), locating blood vessels (2) in each of the multi-spectral images by, retrieving registered spectral images (14), for each spectral image, remove defective pixels (15), enhance image contrast (16), perform top-hat transform using structuring element larger than the largest vessel diameter (17), binarize each image (18), apply filter for smoothing the image (19), combine all the spectral images using binary AND operator (20), skeletonize the resulting image (21), prune the skeleton image (22), re-grow the pruned image (23), locate junction points (24), evaluating the width of the blood vessels (3) by calculating the normal vector to the vessel direction to, estimate the direction and position of the vessel profile, evaluate positions of vessel walls based on the vessel profile obtained, evaluate vessel width based on the position of the vessel walls, selecting samples for calculating optical density, calculating the optical density ratio (4), evaluating oxygen saturation level (5), and presenting the results (6), wherein presenting the results may include presenting numerical and visual representation of the oxygen saturation.

The present invention provides an excellent drug delivery system to posterior segments. An injection according to the present invention is a periocular injection which comprises fine particles containing a drug and enables the drug to deliver to the posterior segments. The drug can be efficiently delivered to the posterior segments (such as a retina, a choroid and an optic nerve) while scarcely injuring ophthalmic tissues by administering the fine particles containing the drug periocularlly. Preferred fine particles are made of a synthetic biodegradable polymer, their average particle diameter is 50 nm to 150 μm, and the drug is dispersed in the fine particles uniformly. Preferred drugs are anti-inflammatories, immunosuppressors, antivirals, anticancer drugs, angiogenesis inhibitors, optic neural protectants, antimicrovials and antifungal agents.

A method of classifying an optic nerve cup and rim of an eye from a retinal image comprising receiving a retinal image, determining a feature vector for a candidate pixel in the retinal image, and classifying the candidate pixel as a cup pixel or a rim pixel based on the feature vector using a trained classifier. The retinal image can be a stereo pair, the retinal image can be color or monochrome. The method disclosed can further comprise identifying an optic nerve, identifying an optic nerve cup and optic nerve rim, and determining a cup-to-disc ratio.

A method for improving visual ability of even a patient's non-operative eye is provided. The electrical stimulation method for improving vision of patient's eyes comprises placing an electrode in one of patient's right and left eyes, and outputting an electrical stimulation pulse signal from the electrode placed in the patient's eye under a predetermined stimulation condition to stimulate cells constituting a retina or optic nerve, thereby improving vision of the other patient's eye with no electrode being placed.

An method and a device for implant into the eye of a patient configured in size to frictionally engage within a cup-like depression naturally occurring in the optic nerve of the eye. The implant has a reservoir for calculated disbursement of medicine to tissue surrounding it and in one mode is refillable and in another mode is formed of biodegradable material which is absorbed by the patient after use ceases.

A prosthesis for viewing an object includes a CMOS camera that is mounted on an eye lens of a patient to create a visual image. A process controller then creates an encoded signal of the visual image that has specific intensity and position information for respective pixels. Next, this encoded signal is transmitted to a stimulating unit implanted in the cranium, where it is decoded to create an electrical stimulation signal in accordance with a predetermined data protocol. The electrical stimulation signal is then passed to an electrode array that is coupled to an optic nerve of the patient, to thereby generate phosphenes in the brain for a sensation of visual perception of the object.

A model human eye that is structurally suited for practicing surgical techniques, including extraocular muscle resection and recession, is presented. The model eye comprises a hemispherical-shaped, bottom assembly having multiple retinal layers and a hemispherical-shaped, integrally molded top assembly having a visually transparent cornea portion surrounding a visually opaque sclera portion. The model eye further comprises an annular iris, a lenticular bag, an anterior chamber having a first fluid disposed therein, and a posterior chamber having a second fluid disposed therein. The model human eye further comprises a cylindrical member extending outwardly from the sclera portion, where the cylindrical member mimics an optic nerve, and a cone-shaped elastomeric assembly attached to a distal end of the cylindrical member and having four elastomeric members extending outwardly, where a distal end of each elastomeric member is attached to the sclera portion, and where each of the elastomeric members mimics a rectus muscle.

A process for treating glaucoma whereby the treatment can be accomplished by the use of medication or by surgery, or both, in order to control or prevent the occurrence of glaucoma. The optic nerve is aligned within and between two distinct pressurized spaces and within the dural sheath, the intraocular space and the intracranial space having an intraocular pressure (IOP) and an intracranial pressure (ICP), respectively. Medicine can be administered to raise the intracranial pressure in order to reach a desirable lower translaminar pressure difference across these two pressurized spaces which are separated by the lamina cribrosa in order to treat glaucoma. An alternate closely related mode of the treatment process is the implanting of a shunt substantially between the intraocular space and the intracranial space in order to beneficially equalize pressure differentials across the intraocular space and the intracranial space.

A method, code and system for planning the treatment a lesion on or adjacent to the retina of an eye of a patient are disclosed. There is first established at least two beam paths along which x-radiation is to be directed at the retinal lesion. Based on the known spectral and intensity characteristics of the beam, a total treatment time for irradiation along each beam paths is determined. From the coordinates of the optic nerve in the aligned eye position, there is determined the extent and duration of eye movement away from the aligned patient-eye position in a direction that moves the patient's optic nerve toward the irradiation beam that will be allowed during treatment, while still maintaining the radiation dose at the patient optic nerve below a predetermined dose level.

The invention discloses a flexible array micro-electrode chip of artificial retinal nerve and making method, which comprises the following steps: adopting poly-p-xylene as flexible base; making several micro-electrode sensitive elements; synthesizing micro-electrode array and micro-cable lead, lead contact and switching interface; constituting the product.

The present invention provides a method for treating and / or preventing damage to a retina or optic nerve in a subject comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of oncomodulin. Preferably, the subject is a mammal, most preferably, a human. In preferred embodiments, the oncomodulin may be used in combination with mannose, a mannose derivative and / or inosine.

A method and apparatus for monitoring optic function is provided. The apparatus and method relies on two principle modes of measuring the function of the optic nerve, namely, monitoring VEPs for neural function, and monitoring at least one additional parameter of optic function such as intraocular pressure, blood flow or location of the eye to provide a multi-variable optic function monitor. The method and apparatus is proposed for the use to diagnose and potentially prevent the incidence of POVL and anaesthesia awareness in patients during medical procedures.

A method and system for automated magnetic resonance (MR) scan prescription is disclosed. A 3D MR scout image is obtained by an initial MR scan. The location of an optic nerve in the scout image is determined by registering a template image to the scout image using a hierarchical series of rigid registrations. The hierarchical series of rigid registrations utilizes a coarse to fine scheme to register regions in the template image to the scout image, starting with the whole template image and finishing with the optic nerve. A diagnostic MR scan is then aligned based on the location of the optic nerve in the scout image, and the diagnostic scan is performed resulting in a high quality diagnostic 3D MR image.

A method for extracting a phospholipid rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is characterized in that firstly marine animal materials are grinded into homogenate solution with colloid; the homogenate solution is frozen and dried and then crushed through a crushing mill; neutral fat and cholesterol in the material powder are removed through supercritical carbon dioxide; and then the phospholipid is extracted with ethanol aqueous solution. The product extracted through the method has high yield and purity; the extraction process has no pollution to the environment and the production staff; the extracted product can promote growth and development of infant brain, enhance memory, promote infant optic nerve and retina development and prevent and cure heart vascular diseases, and has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, immunity-enhancing and other physical activities, thereby having higher development and utilization value as health care products or raw materials of medicine.