Patents by Inventor Rolf Eckmiller

Rolf Eckmiller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7447548
    Abstract: A retinal implant has at least one functional unit positioned internally inside an eye and at least one functional unit positioned externally outside the eye and at least one functional unit positioned outside the eye, which are separably connected to one another via a signal path in a manner designed for signal or data transmission. The patient's residual vision which may still remain is preserved because the signal path extends through the sclera of the eye and does not incorporate the anterior eye section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: IMI Intelligent Medical Implants AG
    Inventor: Rolf Eckmiller
  • Patent number: 7177697
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microcontact structure for epiretinal or cortical contacting of nerve tissue for a vision prosthesis in mammals or human beings. Due to the fact that the thickness of the surface of the microcontacts (2) is not constant along the surface of the microcontact structure, the resolution can be adapted to physiological requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Intelligent Acquisition LLC
    Inventors: Rolf Eckmiller, Steffen Suchert
  • Patent number: 6970746
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spatially adaptive, implanted microcontact structure for neuroprostheses suitable for treating functional disorders of the nervous system for the purpose of reversible anchorage on nerve tissue. The spatially adaptive microcontact structure (RAM) is characterized in particular in that an optimum contact or active connection to nerve tissue is ensured. The implanted microcontact structure comprises subareas that are movable relative to one another and that can be brought into at least two permanent desired positions relative to one another and that can be brought into a desired position during implantation for the purpose of mechanical anchorage to the nerve tissue to be contacted and can also be brought out of one desired position into another during explantation to release the anchorage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Intelligent Implants GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Eckmiller, Ralph Hünermann, Michael Becker
  • Publication number: 20050251223
    Abstract: A retinal implant has at least one functional unit positioned internally inside an eye and at least one functional unit positioned externally outside the eye and at least one functional unit positioned outside the eye, which are separably connected to one another via a signal path in a manner designed for signal or data transmission. The patient's residual vision which may still remain is preserved because the signal path extends through the sclera of the eye and does not incorporate the anterior eye section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Applicant: Intelligent Acquisition, LLC
    Inventor: Rolf Eckmiller
  • Publication number: 20050165409
    Abstract: The invention relates to a removable anchoring element (3) for an implantable microcontact foil (2) used as a neuroimplant, especially for retina implants. The anchoring head rises above the surface of the implant, for fixing purposes, and the fixing device can be removed during the re-explantation or anchoring process by pulling the implant foil (2) beneath the anchoring head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventor: Rolf Eckmiller
  • Publication number: 20040172099
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microcontact structure for epiretinal or cortical contacting of nerve tissue for a vision prosthesis in mammals or human beings. Due to the fact that the thickness of the surface of the microcontacts (2) is not constant along the surface of the microcontact structure, the resolution can be adapted to physiological requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Rolf Eckmiller, Steffen Suchert
  • Publication number: 20030093132
    Abstract: The invention relates to a retinal implant having at least one functional unit 4 positioned internally inside an eye and at least one functional unit (2) positioned externally outside the eve and at least one functional unit 8 position outside the eye, which are separably connected to one another via a signal path (5, 6, 7, 15, 16, 17; 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17) in a manner designed for signal or data transmission. The patient's residual vision which may still remain is preserved because the signal path extends through the sclera (9) of the eye and does not incorporate the anterior eye section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventor: Rolf Eckmiller
  • Patent number: 6530954
    Abstract: An adaptive sensory-motor encoder equipped with a central control unit for signal processing functions, monitoring functions, checking functions and/or external intervention functions. The encoder has a group of adaptive spatio-temporal filters for the purpose of converting sensor signals into stimulation pulse sequences, and it is equipped with an interface for coupling the encoder with an implantable microstructure for stimulation of nerve or glial tissue. The interface is executed in bi-directional design. Thus, along with control of nerve cells and administration of active substances, monitoring of sensor signals and biophysical parameters of spontaneous activity recorded at the implant site is also possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: IIP Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Eckmiller
  • Patent number: 6493587
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the protection of neuroprosthesis operation against unauthorized access to the function or operating data. The system is assigned to neuroprostheses for treating functional disorders of the nervous system. This neuroimplant protection system (NIS) comprises at least one neuroprosthesis component which is in contact or operational connection with nerve tissue. Neuroprosthesis operation takes place only during the period of a specific authorization and/or comprises an authorized data transmission between external component and implanted component and/or an authorized communication for monitoring and/or defining the neuroprosthesis functional state. The communication between external and implanted component is in encrypted form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Intelligent Implants GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Eckmiller, Valerij Ortmann, Michael Becker, Ralph Hünermann
  • Patent number: 6400989
    Abstract: The invention describes an adaptive, sensory-motor encoder for a visual prosthesis or for an acoustic prosthesis and equipped with a central control unit for signal processing functions, monitoring functions, control functions and external intervention functions as well as with a group of adaptive spatio-temporal filters for the conversion of sensor signals into stimulation impulse sequences, whereby a bi-directional interface is provided for coupling the encoder with an implantable microstructure (2) for stimulation of nerve or glial tissue on the one hand, and on the other hand for function monitoring of brain function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Intelligent Implants GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Eckmiller
  • Publication number: 20010037061
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spatially adaptive, implanted microcontact structure for neuroprostheses suitable for treating functional disorders of the nervous system for the purpose of reversible anchorage on nerve tissue. The spatially adaptive microcontact structure (RAM) is characterized in particular in that an optimum contact or active connection to nerve tissue is ensured. The implanted microcontact structure comprises subareas that are movable relative to one another and that can be brought into at least two permanent desired positions relative to one another and that can be brought into a desired position during implantation for the purpose of mechanical anchorage to the nerve tissue to be contacted and can also be brought out of one desired position into another during explantation to release the anchorage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventors: Rolf Eckmiller, Ralph Hunermann, Michael Becker