Patents by Inventor Heinz Gerhard Graf
Heinz Gerhard Graf 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).
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Patent number: 9028399Abstract: The invention relates to an intracorporeal probe (10), for example preferably for examining hollow organs or natural or artificially created body cavities in the human or animal body, the probe (10) being designed in the form of a capsule that can be introduced into the body without external connecting elements, comprising an elongate housing (16) and an image pickup unit (26) inside the housing (16) that is designed for optically recording a region (pickup region) outside the probe (10). The image pickup unit (26) is held in a fashion capable of moving inside the housing (16) in order to vary the pickup region by means of such a movement (FIG. 1).Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2007Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Klaus M. Irion, Fritz Hensler, Christine Harendt, Heinz-Gerhard Graf, Robert Puers, David Turgis, Bert Lenaerts, Alberto Arena, Arianna Menciassi, Vassilis Kodogiannis
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Patent number: 8309924Abstract: A circuit arrangement for generating light-dependent and temperature-dependent signals has a number of first and second sensor elements, which generate a number of first and second electrical signals. The first and second electrical signals depend on electromagnetic radiation impinging on the circuit arrangement. The first sensor elements are designed to generate the first electrical signals in a manner dependent on electromagnetic radiation from a first wavelength range which comprises a substantial part of the visible light. The second sensor elements are designed to generate the second electrical signals in a manner dependent on electromagnetic radiation from a second wavelength range which predominantly comprises infrared radiation. The first wavelength range overlaps the second wavelength range and it therefore also comprises infrared radiation.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2010Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Institut fuer Mikroelektronik StuttgartInventors: Joachim N. Burghartz, Franz Xaver Hutter, Daniel Brosch, Heinz-Gerhard Graf
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Publication number: 20100278212Abstract: A circuit arrangement for generating light-dependent and temperature-dependent signals has a number of first and second sensor elements, which generate a number of first and second electrical signals. The first and second electrical signals depend on electromagnetic radiation impinging on the circuit arrangement. The first sensor elements are designed to generate the first electrical signals in a manner dependent on electromagnetic radiation from a first wavelength range which comprises a substantial part of the visible light. The second sensor elements are designed to generate the second electrical signals in a manner dependent on electromagnetic radiation from a second wavelength range which predominantly comprises infrared radiation. The first wavelength range overlaps the second wavelength range and it therefore also comprises infrared radiation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2010Publication date: November 4, 2010Inventors: Joachim N. BURGHARTZ, Franz Xaver Hutter, Daniel Brosch, Heinz-Gerhard Graf
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Patent number: 7751896Abstract: An active retina implant has a multiplicity of pixel elements that convert incident light into electric stimulation signals for cells of the retina with which stimulation electrodes are to make contact. Each pixel element is provided with at least one image cell that converts incident light into electric signals, there being provided at least one amplifier whose input is connected to the image cell and whose output is connected to at least one stimulation electrode to which it supplies a stimulation signal. Also provided is an energy supply which provides externally coupled external energy as supply voltage for the image cells and the amplifiers. The image cell has a logarithmic characteristic according to which incident light of specific intensity is converted into electric signals of specific amplitude. The stimulation signal is supplied in the form of analog voltage pulses of specific pulse length and pulse spacings, the pulse amplitude being a function of the intensity of the incident light.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2005Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Retina Implant AGInventors: Heinz-Gerhard Graf, Alexander Dollberg, Bernd Hoefflinger, Wilfried Nisch, Hugo Haemmerle, Alfred Stett, Martin Stelzle, Eberhart Zrenner
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Publication number: 20080081947Abstract: The invention relates to an intracorporeal probe (10), for example preferably for examining hollow organs or natural or artificially created body cavities in the human or animal body, the probe (10) being designed in the form of a capsule that can be introduced into the body without external connecting elements, comprising an elongate housing (16) and an image pickup unit (26) inside the housing (16) that is designed for optically recording a region (pickup region) outside the probe (10). The image pickup unit (26) is held in a fashion capable of moving inside the housing (16) in order to vary the pickup region by means of such a movement (FIG. 1).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2007Publication date: April 3, 2008Inventors: Klaus Irion, Fritz Hensler, Christine Harendt, Heinz-Gerhard Graf, Robert Puers, David Turgis, Bert Lenaerts, Alberto Arena, Arianna Menciassi, Vassilis Kodogiannis
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Patent number: 7126632Abstract: A method for the transformation of image signals that have been obtained by color filtering and have been logarithmically compressed is proposed. The color saturation of the recorded images is increased thereby. According to one aspect of the invention, the transformed image signals are determined as a function of the logarithmically compressed image signals and the logarithmically compressed brightness signals for a spectral color.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2002Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Institut für Mikroelecktronik StuttgartInventors: Bernd Hofflinger, Heinz Gerhard Graf
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Publication number: 20060184245Abstract: An active retina implant has a multiplicity of pixel elements that convert incident light into electric stimulation signals for cells of the retina with which stimulation electrodes are to make contact. Each pixel element is provided with at least one image cell that converts incident light into electric signals, there being provided at least one amplifier whose input is connected to the image cell and whose output is connected to at least one stimulation electrode to which it supplies a stimulation signal. Also provided is an energy supply which provides externally coupled external energy as supply voltage for the image cells and the amplifiers. The image cell has a logarithmic characteristic according to which incident light of specific intensity is converted into electric signals of specific amplitude. The stimulation signal is supplied in the form of analog voltage pulses of specific pulse length and pulse spacings, the pulse amplitude being a function of the intensity of the incident light.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2005Publication date: August 17, 2006Inventors: Heinz-Gerhard Graf, Alexander Dollberg, Bernd Hoefflinger, Wilfried Nisch, Hugo Haemmerle, Alfred Stett, Martin Stelzle, Eberhart Zrenner
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Publication number: 20060069416Abstract: The present invention relates to a retina implant for the functional electrostimulation of a retina as a function of incident light. The retina implant has a stimulation chip that is designed to be implanted in the area of the retina of an eye. It further includes a radiation receiver that provides energy for the stimulation chip as a function of invisible radiation that occurs. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the radiation receiver is designed so as to be implanted in the area of the eye in a fashion spatially separated from the stimulation chip. The stimulation chip also has decoupling means in order to separate invisible scattered radiation from impinging visible light.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2005Publication date: March 30, 2006Inventors: Wilfried Nisch, Martin Stelzle, Heinz-Gerhard Graf, Eberhart Zrenner, Markus Schubert, Hugo Haemmerle
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Patent number: 6847847Abstract: A retina implant including a chip adapted to be implanted into the interior of eye in subretinal contact with the retina. The chip has a plurality of pixel elements on a side thereof facing the lens for receiving an image projected into the retina and a plurality of electrodes for stimulating retina cells. The implants further includes a receiver coil for inductively coupling thereinto electromagnetic energy. The receiver coil coupled to a means for converting an alternating voltage induced into the receiver coil in a direct voltage suited for supplying the chip. The receiver coil is configured as a component separate from the chip, and for being positioned on the eye ball outside the sclera. The chip is connected to the receiver coil via a connecting lead which, in the implanted condition interconnects the interior and the exterior of the eye ball.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2001Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Eberhard-Karls Universitat Tubingen, UniversitatsklinikumInventors: Wilfried Nisch, Alfred Stett, Markus Schubert, Michael Graf, Heinz Gerhard Graf, Hugo Hämmerle, Eberhart Zrenner, Martin Stelzle, Helmut Sachs
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Patent number: 6804560Abstract: A retina implant, comprises a surface and a plurality of pixel elements disposed on the surface for receiving and converting incoming light energy into electric energy. At least one amplifier is provided in the implant, and a plurality of stimulation electrodes supplied via the at least one amplifier as a function of signals received by the pixel elements. At least one light-sensitive reference element is coupled with the at least one amplifier for controlling amplification thereof as a function of light energy impinging on the at least one reference element.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2001Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Eberhard-Karls-Universitat Tubingen UniversitatsklinikumInventors: Wilfried Nisch, Alfred Stett, Markus Schubert, Michael Graf, Heinz Gerhard Graf, Hugo Hammerle, Eberhart Zrenner, Martin Stelzle
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Publication number: 20020198573Abstract: A retina implant to be implanted into an eye having an eye ball with an exterior and an interior, a sclera, a lens, and a retina is disclosed. The implant comprises a chip adapted to be implanted into the interior of the eye in contact with the retina. The chip, when in an implanted condition, has a plurality of pixel elements on a side thereof facing the lens for receiving an image projected onto the retina. The chip, further, comprises a plurality of electrodes for stimulating retina cells. The electrodes are located on the side of the chip having the pixel elements thereon, such that the chip is adapted to be implanted into a subretinal space of the eye. The implant, further, comprises a receiver coil for inductively coupling thereinto electromagnetic energy. The receiver coil is coupled to a means for converting an alternating voltage induced into the receiver coil in a direct voltage suited for supplying the chip.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2001Publication date: December 26, 2002Inventors: Wilfried Nisch, Alfred Stett, Markus Schubert, Michael Graf, Heinz Gerhard Graf, Hugo Hammerle, Eberhart Zrenner, Martin Stelzle, H. Sachs
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Publication number: 20020177895Abstract: A retina implant, comprises a surface and a plurality of pixel elements disposed on the surface for receiving and converting incoming light energy into electric energy. At least one amplifier is provided in the implant, and a plurality of stimulation electrodes supplied via the at least one amplifier as a function of signals received by the pixel elements. At least one light-sensitive reference element is coupled with the at least one amplifier for controlling amplification thereof as a function of light energy impinging on the at least one reference element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2001Publication date: November 28, 2002Inventors: Wilfried Nisch, Alfred Stett, Markus Schubert, Michael Graf, Heinz Gerhard Graf, Hugo Hammerle, Eberhart Zrenner, Martin Stelzle
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Publication number: 20020176023Abstract: A method for the transformation of image signals that have been obtained by color filtering and have been logarithmically compressed is proposed. The color saturation of the recorded images is increased thereby. According to one aspect of the invention, the transformed image signals are determined as a function of the logarithmically compressed image signals and the logarithmically compressed brightness signals for a spectral color.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Inventors: Bernd Hofflinger, Heinz Gerhard Graf
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Patent number: 6347250Abstract: An optically controllable microelectrode array for stimulating cells within a tissue is disclosed. The array comprises a substrate having a surface. The substrate is adapted to be placed on the tissue with the surface adjoining the cells. The substrate further comprises a plurality of electrodes on the surface in contact with the cells for stimulating the cells. The electrodes are dimensioned such that a first surface area on the electrodes in contact with the cells is essentially smaller than a second surface area on the cells in which the cells may be contacted by the electrodes. An electrical stimulus is exerted from the electrodes to the cells under the control of light impinging on the tissue.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1999Date of Patent: February 12, 2002Inventors: Wilfried Nisch, Martin Stelzle, Stefan Weiss, Eberhart Zrenner, Elke Günther, Alfred Stett, Heinz Gerhard Graf, Michael Graf, Markus B. Schubert, Harald N. Wanka, Anke Hierzenberger
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Patent number: 6298270Abstract: A retina implant has a substrate with a surface for applying same to a retina. The substrate comprises electrodes for stimulating cells within the retina. The electrodes are provided on the surface and are exposed to visible light impinging on the retina such that stimuli are exerted on the cells by the electrodes. The implant, further, comprises a photovoltaic layer responsive to non-visible light. The stimuli are locally switched utilizing a voltage generated by the photovoltaic layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1999Date of Patent: October 2, 2001Assignee: Eberhard-Karls-Universitat Tubingen UniversitatsklinkumInventors: Wilfried Nisch, Martin Stelzle, Stefan Weiss, Eberhart Zrenner, Alfred Stett, Heinz Gerhard Graf, Michael Graf, Markus B. Schubert, Harald N. Wanka, Anke Hierzenberger