Patents Assigned to Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
  • Apparatus and Method for Visual Stimulation Indication
    Publication number: 20160279416
    Abstract: Methods and devices for verifying that proper visual stimulation is applied to the visual prostheses are described. In one of the methods, a visual stimulation system implanted on a subject is simulated externally. An external testing device is also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Neha Vyas, Robert J. Greenberg, Arup Roy, Donald Webber, Richard Agustin Castro, John Reinhold, Kelly McClure
  • Visual Prosthesis with an Integrated Visor and Video Processing Unit
    Publication number: 20160279415
    Abstract: The present invention is a new configuration for the external portion of a visual prosthesis in the form of a visor or glasses, including a frame supported by a user's nose and ears. The video processing unit is adapted to be connected by temple portions of the visor and rest on the user's upper back behind the user's neck, or behind the user's head. Controls for the video processor are on one or both temple portions of the visor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Arup Roy, Robert J. Greenberg, Kelly H. McClure, Sanjay Gaikwad, Timothy M. Nugent
  • Flexible circuit electrode array embedded in a cured body
    Patent number: 9427582
    Abstract: Polymer materials are useful as electrode array bodies for neural stimulation. They are particularly useful for retinal stimulation to create artificial vision, cochlear stimulation to create artificial hearing, and cortical stimulation, and many related purposes. The pressure applied against the retina, or other neural tissue, by an electrode array is critical. Too little pressure causes increased electrical resistance, along with electric field dispersion. Too much pressure may block blood flow. Common flexible circuit fabrication techniques generally require that a flexible circuit electrode array be made flat. Since neural tissue is almost never flat, a flat array will necessarily apply uneven pressure. Further, the edges of a flexible circuit polymer array may be sharp and cut the delicate neural tissue. It is advantageous that the array edges not contact tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J Greenberg, Matthew J McMahon, Jordan Matthew Neysmith, James S Little, Neil Hamilton Talbot, Kelly H McClure, Brian V Mech
  • Package for an implantable device
    Patent number: 9415221
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved hermetic package for implantation in the human body. The implantable device of the present invention includes an eclectically non-conductive bass including electrically conductive vias through the substrate. A circuit is flip-chip bonded to a subset of the vias. A second circuit is wire bonded to another subset of the vias. Finally, a cover is bonded to the substrate such that the cover, substrate and vias form a hermetic package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J Greenberg, Jerry Ok, Jordan Matthew Neysmith, Kevin Wilkin, Neil Hamilton Talbot, Da-Yu Chang
  • Flexible Circuit Electrode Array
    Publication number: 20160228695
    Abstract: A flexible circuit electrode array with more than one layer of metal traces comprising: a polymer base layer; more than one layer of metal traces, separated by polymer layers, deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue; and a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces. Polymer materials are useful as electrode array bodies for neural stimulation. They are particularly useful for retinal stimulation to create artificial vision, cochlear stimulation to create artificial hearing, or cortical stimulation many purposes. The pressure applied against the retina, or other neural tissue, by an electrode array is critical. Too little pressure causes increased electrical resistance, along with electric field dispersion. Too much pressure may block blood flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Neysmith, Robert Greenberg, James Little, Brian Mech, Neil Talbot, Qingfang Yao, Dao Min Zhou
  • Hybrid fitting for a visual prosthesis
    Patent number: 9403006
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved fitting and training system for a visual prosthesis. Fitting a visual prosthesis through automated means is challenging and fitting a visual prosthesis manually is tedious for clinician and patent, and provides great opportunity for error. A hybrid of computer controlled and manual fitting provides effective, efficient and controlled fitting process. The process includes testing a group of electrodes in random order by providing a prompt followed by stimulation and the patient responding if they saw a percept. After each set, a maximum likelihood algorithm is used to determine the next stimulation level, or if further stimulation is needed for each electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jessy D Dorn, Arup Roy, Robert J Greenberg, Avraham I Caspi
  • Stimulation patterns for a visual prosthesis
    Patent number: 9387321
    Abstract: The present invention is a visual prosthesis for the restoration of sight in patients with lost or degraded visual function. The visual prosthesis includes an implantable portion which stimulates visual neural tissue according to stimulation patterns sent by a programmable video processing unit. The video processing unit controls stimulation patterns including programmable wave forms to provide monopolar, bipolar, and multipolar wave forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Greenberg, Joseph H Schulman
  • Apparatus and method for visual stimulation indication
    Patent number: 9387324
    Abstract: Methods and devices for verifying that proper visual stimulation is applied to the visual prostheses are described. In one of the methods, a retinal stimulation system implanted on a subject is simulated externally. An external testing device is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Neha Vyas, Donald A. Webber, John J. Reinhold, Arup Roy, Richard Agustin Castro, Kelly H. McClure, Robert J. Greenberg
  • Visual prosthesis with integrated visor and video processing unit
    Patent number: 9381354
    Abstract: The present invention is a new configuration for the external portion of a visual prosthesis in the form of a visor or glasses, including a frame supported by a user's nose and ears. The video processing unit is adapted to be connected by temple portions of the visor and rest on the user's upper back behind the user's neck, or behind the user's head. Controls for the video processor are on one or both temple portions of the visor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Arup Roy, Sanjay Gaikwad, Kelly H. McClure, Timothy M. Nugent, Robert J. Greenberg
  • Flexible circuit electrode array and a method for backside processing of a flexible circuit electrode device
    Patent number: 9327108
    Abstract: A flexible circuit electrode array device comprising: a polymer layer; wherein the polymer layer includes one or more metal traces, an electrode array; one or more bond pads; and the electrode array is located on the opposite side of the polymer layer. A method for backside processing of a flexible circuit electrode device, comprising: applying polymer film on a substrate; processing the front side; releasing the polymer film from substrate; flipping over the polymer film and fixing it onto the substrate; processing the backside; and final releasing of the polymer film from the substrate. Another aspect of the method involves backside processing of a flexible circuit electrode device, comprising: processing the front side without releasing the polymer; processing the backside by sacrificial substrate method, or by laser drilling method; and releasing the polymer film from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Qingfang Yao, Jordan Matthew Neysmith, Neil Hamilton Talbot, James S Little, Robert J Greenberg
  • Method of making a flexible circuit electrode array
    Patent number: 9314615
    Abstract: A flexible circuit electrode array with more than one layer of metal traces comprising: a polymer base layer; more than one layer of metal traces, separated by polymer layers, deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue; and a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces. Polymer materials are useful as electrode array bodies for neural stimulation. They are particularly useful for retinal stimulation to create artificial vision, cochlear stimulation to create artificial hearing, or cortical stimulation many purposes. The pressure applied against the retina, or other neural tissue, by an electrode array is critical. Too little pressure causes increased electrical resistance, along with electric field dispersion. Too much pressure may block blood flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Matthew Neysmith, Neil Hamilton Talbot, James Singleton Little, Brian V. Mech, Robert J. Greenberg, Qingfang Yao, Dao Min Zhou
  • Adherent metal oxide coating forming a high surface area electrode
    Patent number: 9308299
    Abstract: An implantable electrode and method for manufacturing the electrode wherein the electrode has a strong, adherent surface inert coating on a conductive coating on the electrode surface, which demonstrates an increase in surface area of at least five times when compared to smooth platinum of the same geometry. An iridium oxide coating may be formed on a platinum coating by a physical deposition process, such as sputtering. The process of electroplating the iridium oxide surface coating is accomplished by voltage control processes. A gradient coating of iridium oxide ranging in composition from essentially pure platinum to essentially pure iridium oxide is produced by sputtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David D Zhou, Neil Hamilton Talbot, Robert J Greenberg
  • Fitting of brightness as a function of current amplitude in a visual prosthesis
    Patent number: 9308368
    Abstract: A visual prosthesis must convey luminance information across a range of brightness levels to accurately represent a visual scene. Thus, the brightness of phosphenes produced by individual electrodes should scale appropriately with luminance, and the same luminance should produce equivalently bright phosphenes across the entire electrode array. Given that the function relating current to brightness varies across electrodes, it is necessary to develop a fitting procedure that will permit brightness to be equated across an entire array. A visual prosthesis that generates stimuli by performing a brightness fitting that normalizes brightness across electrodes is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott H Greenwald, Matthew J McMahon, Ione Fine
  • Cortical visual prosthesis
    Patent number: 9302107
    Abstract: The present invention is a visual prosthesis adapted for implantation in the brain, and more particularly with an electrode array adapted for implantation in the Calcarine Sulcus of the visual cortex. The electrode array of the invention has electrodes on each side and spaced appropriately for the Calcarine Sulcus and driven by an electronic circuit within a hermetic package small enough to be implanted with a skull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Lauritzen, Jessy D Dorn, Robert J Greenberg, Jordan Matthew Neysmith, Neil Hamilton Talbot, David Daomin Zhou
  • Medical tack with a variable effective length
    Patent number: 9295581
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved medical tack. The tack of the present invention includes attachment points at each end where at least one of the attachment points is moveable, varying the effective length of the tack. Varying the length of the medical tack adapts the tack for use with tissue of different thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Little, Gaillard R. Nolan, Neil H. Talbot, Robert J. Greenberg
  • Visual prosthesis for phosphene shape control
    Patent number: 9254385
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved method of stimulating visual neurons to create artificial vision. It has been found that varying current of visual stimulation can create varying percept brightness, varying percept size, and varying percept shape. By determining the attributes of predetermined current levels, and using those attributes to program a video processor, more accurate video preproduction can be obtained. The present invention also includes an electrode array having alternating large and small electrodes in rows at a 45 degree angle to horizontal in the visual field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Greenberg, Mark Humayan, Devyani Nanduri, Matthew McMahon, James Weiland
  • Biocompatible bonding method suitable for implantation
    Patent number: 9258902
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of bonding a hermetically sealed electronics package to an electrode or a flexible circuit and the resulting electronics package, that is suitable for implantation in living tissue, such as for a retinal or cortical electrode array to enable restoration of sight to certain non-sighted individuals. The hermetically sealed electronics package is directly bonded to the flex circuit or electrode by electroplating a biocompatible material, such as platinum or gold, effectively forming a plated rivet-shaped connection, which bonds the flex circuit to the electronics package. The resulting electronic device is biocompatible and is suitable for long-term implantation in living tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J Greenberg, Neil H Talbot, Jerry Ok, Jordan M Neysmith, David D Zhou
  • Biocompatible electroplated interconnection electronics package suitable for implantation
    Patent number: 9220169
    Abstract: Device is a hermetically sealed electronics package bonded to an electrode or flexible circuit that is suitable for implantation such as for a retinal or cortical electrode array. The hermetically sealed electronics package is bonded to the electrode or flexible circuit by electroplating a biocompatible material, such as platinum or gold, forming a plated connection, bonding the flexible circuit to the electronics package. The resulting electronic device is biocompatible and is suitable for long-term implantation. The device comprises a substrate containing a contact, a flexible assembly containing a pad, and electroplated bonding between said contact and said pad that bonds said substrate and said flexible assembly together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dao Min Zhou, James Singleton Little, Robert J. Greenberg
  • Method and apparatus for predicting and controlling the percepts induced by a visual prosthesis
    Patent number: 9211404
    Abstract: Here we present the first model that quantitatively predicts the apparent spatial position and shape of percepts elicited by retinal electrical stimulation in humans based on the known anatomy of the retina. This model successfully predicts both the shape of percepts elicited by single electrode stimulation and the shape and relative positions of percepts elicited by multiple electrode stimulation. Model fits to behavioral data show that sensitivity to electrical stimulation is not confined to the axon initial segment, but does fall off rapidly with the distance between stimulation and the initial segment. Using the model, it is possible to compensate, preferably with a look up table, to match percepts to a desired image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Devyani Nanduri, Ione Fine, Robert J Greenberg, Jessy D Dorn
  • Glasses for a visual prosthesis
    Patent number: D763344
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Arup Roy, Mark Welch, Sanjay Gaikwad, Christopher A Wilson, Solene Bourgeois, Philip C Halbert