Patents by Inventor Ione Fine

Ione Fine 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: 8190267
    Abstract: The invention is a method of automatically adjusting an electrode array to the neural characteristics of an individual subject. The response to electrical neural stimulation varies from subject to subject. Measure of impedance may be used to predict the electrode height from the neural tissue and, thereby, predict the threshold of perception. Alternatively, electrode height may be measured directly to predict the threshold of perception. Also, impedance measurement may be used to quickly identify defective electrodes and proper electrode placement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Greenberg, Ione Fine, Arup Roy, Matthew J. McMahon, Mark S. Humayun, James David Weiland, Alan M. Horsager, Dao Min Zhou, Amy Hines, Sumit Yadav, Rongqing Dai
  • Patent number: 8180454
    Abstract: The invention is a method of automatically adjusting an electrode array to the neural characteristics of an individual subject. The response to electrical neural stimulation varies from subject to subject. Measure of impedance may be used to predict the electrode height from the neural tissue and, thereby, predict the threshold of perception. Alternatively, electrode height may be measured directly to predict the threshold of perception. Also, impedance measurement may be used to quickly identify defective electrodes and proper electrode placement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Greenberg, Ione Fine, Arup Roy, Matthew J. McMahon, Mark S. Humayun, James David Weiland, Alan M. Horsager, Dao Min Zhou, Amy Hines, Sumit Yadav, Rongqing Dai
  • Publication number: 20120059697
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for displaying an image during an operation of an accelerated media playback (e.g., fast-forward or reverse) such that the image appears concurrently with a cue signaling a resume point. First, a video frame within an advertisement is identified from a plurality of advertisements. The video frame contains the cue and indicates a resume point for media content. Additionally, an image is embedded on the video frame such that the video frame, the cue and the image are displayed for less than a second during accelerated media playback, such as a fast-forward operation. The presence of the action cue or resume cue presented concurrently with the advertisement assists viewers in preferentially recalling the product related to the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: Jeffrey Y. Lin, Ione Fine, Geoffrey M. Boynton, Scott O. Murray
  • Publication number: 20110184490
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of stimulating visual neurons to create the perception of light. A visual prosthesis electrically stimulating the retina with implanted electrodes exhibits interaction between electrodes stimulated closely together in both space and time. The method of the present invention includes determining a minimum distance at which spatiotemporal interactions occur, determining a minimum time at which spatiotemporal interactions occur, and avoiding stimulation of electrodes within the minimum distance during the minimum time. The minimum are ideally established for each individual patient. Alternatively, approximate minimums have been established by the applicants at 2 mm and 1.8 ?sec.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Alan Matthew Horsager, Geoffrey M. Boynton, Ione Fine, Robert J. Greenberg
  • Patent number: 7908011
    Abstract: Methods and devices for fitting a visual prosthesis are described. In one of the methods, threshold levels and maximum levels for the electrodes of the prosthesis are determined and a map of brightness to electrode stimulation levels is later formed. A fitting system for a visual prosthesis is also discussed, together with a computer-operated system having a graphical user interface showing visual prosthesis diagnostic screens and visual prosthesis configuration screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. McMahon, Arup Roy, Scott Greenwald, Ione Fine, Alan Matthew Horsager, Avraham I. Caspi, Kelly Hobart McClure, Robert Jay Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20110015699
    Abstract: The invention is a method of automatically adjusting an electrode array to the neural characteristics of an individual patient. The perceptual response to electrical neural stimulation varies from patient to patient and The response to electrical neural stimulation varies from patient to patient and the relationship between current and perceived brightness is often non-linear. It is necessary to determine this relationship to fit the prosthesis settings for each patient. It is advantageous to map the perceptual responses to stimuli. The method of mapping of the present invention is to provide a plurality of stimuli that vary in current, voltage, pulse duration, frequency, or some other dimension; measuring and recording the response to those stimuli; deriving a formula or equation describing the map from the individual points; storing the formula; and using that formula to map future stimulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Jay Greenberg, Ione Fine, Arup Roy, Matthew J. McMahon
  • Patent number: 7818064
    Abstract: The invention is a method of automatically adjusting an electrode array to the neural characteristics of an individual patient. The perceptual response to electrical neural stimulation varies from patient to patient and the response to electrical neural stimulation varies from patient to patient and the relationship between current and perceived brightness is often non-linear. It is necessary to determine this relationship to fit the prosthesis settings for each patient. It is advantageous to map the perceptual responses to stimuli. The method of mapping of the present invention is to provide a plurality of stimuli that vary in current, voltage, pulse duration, frequency, or some other dimension; measuring and recording the response to those stimuli; deriving a formula or equation describing the map from the individual points; storing the formula; and using that formula to map future stimulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Jay Greenberg, Ione Fine, Arup Roy, Matthew J. McMahon
  • Publication number: 20100241192
    Abstract: To accurately represent a visual scene a visual prosthesis must convey luminance information across a range of brightness levels. To do this, the brightness of phosphenes produced by an individual electrode 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. The current invention describes a method of performing a brightness fitting that normalizes brightness across electrodes. The method determines a set of parameters that are stored in the subjects Video Configuration Fileā€”the look-up table that converts the video camera input to stimulation profiles for each electrode. One electrode would be specified as the standard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Scott H. Greenwald, Matthew J. McMahon, Ione Fine
  • Patent number: 7738962
    Abstract: The invention is a method of automatically adjusting an electrode array to the neural characteristics of an individual patient. The perceptual response to electrical neural stimulation varies from patient to patient and The response to electrical neural stimulation varies from patient to patient and the relationship between current and perceived brightness is often non-linear. It is necessary to determine this relationship to fit the prosthesis settings for each patient. It is advantageous to map the perceptual responses to stimuli. The method of mapping of the present invention is to provide a plurality of stimuli that vary in current, voltage, pulse duration, frequency, or some other dimension; measuring and recording the response to those stimuli; deriving a formula or equation describing the map from the individual points; storing the formula; and using that formula to map future stimulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Jay Greenberg, Ione Fine, Arup Roy, Matthew J. McMahon
  • Patent number: 7499572
    Abstract: A method for determining if a first pixel and a second pixel belong to a same surface includes: determining a spatial-difference value for the first pixel and the second pixel; determining one or more vision-difference values for the first pixel and the second pixel; determining, from the spatial-difference value, an initial same-surface probability value for if the first pixel and the second pixel belong to the same surface; determining, from the one or more vision-difference values, a first vision-difference probability value for if the first pixel and the second pixel belong to the same surface; determining, from the spatial-difference value and the one or more vision-difference values, a second vision-difference probability value; determining, from the initial same-surface probability value, the first vision-difference probability value and the second vision-difference probability value, an improved same-surface probability value for if the first pixel and the second pixel belong to the same surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Ione Fine, Geoffrey M. Boynton
  • Publication number: 20080294223
    Abstract: The invention is a method of automatically adjusting an electrode array to the neural characteristics of an individual subject. The response to electrical neural stimulation varies from subject to subject. Measure of impedance may be used to predict the electrode height from the neural tissue and, thereby, predict the threshold of perception. Alternatively, electrode height may be measured directly to predict the threshold of perception. Also, impedance measurement may be used to quickly identify defective electrodes and proper electrode placement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Robert J. Greenberg, Ione Fine, Arup Roy, Matthew J. McMahon, Mark S. Humayun, James David Weiland, Alan M. Horsager, Dao Min Zhou, Amy Hines, Sumit Yadav, Rongqing Dai
  • Publication number: 20080188908
    Abstract: The invention is a method of automatically adjusting an electrode array to the neural characteristics of an individual patient. The perceptual response to electrical neural stimulation varies from patient to patient and The response to electrical neural stimulation varies from patient to patient and the relationship between current and perceived brightness is often non-linear. It is necessary to determine this relationship to fit the prosthesis settings for each patient. It is advantageous to map the perceptual responses to stimuli. The method of mapping of the present invention is to provide a plurality of stimuli that vary in current, voltage, pulse duration, frequency, or some other dimension; measuring and recording the response to those stimuli; deriving a formula or equation describing the map from the individual points; storing the formula; and using that formula to map future stimulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Jay Greenberg, Ione Fine, Arup Roy, Matthew J. McMahon
  • Publication number: 20080125832
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for retinal stimulation are shown. The method comprises varied parameters, including frequency, pulse width, and pattern of pulse trains to determine a stimulation pattern and neural perception threshold, and creating a model based on the neural perception thresholds to optimize patterns of neural stimulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Alan Matthew Horsager, Scott H. Greenwald, Mark S. Humayun, Matthew J. McMahon, Ione Fine, Robert J. Greenberg, Geoffrey M. Boynton
  • Publication number: 20080058897
    Abstract: Methods and devices for fitting a visual prosthesis are described. In one of the methods, threshold levels and maximum levels for the electrodes of the prosthesis are determined and a map of brightness to electrode stimulation levels is later formed. A fitting system for a visual prosthesis is also discussed, together with a computer-operated system having a graphical user interface showing visual prosthesis diagnostic screens and visual prosthesis configuration screens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Matthew McMahon, Arup Roy, Scott Greenwald, Ione Fine, Alan Horsager, Avraham Caspi, Kelly McClure, Robert Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20080045856
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for retinal stimulation are shown. The method comprises varied parameters, including frequency, pulse width, and pattern of pulse trains to determine a stimulation pattern and visual perception threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Alan Horsager, Scott Greenwald, Mark Humayun, Matthew McMahon, Ione Fine, Robert Greenberg, Geoffrey Boynton
  • Publication number: 20080021515
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for retinal stimulation are shown. The method comprises varied parameters, including frequency, pulse width, and pattern of pulse trains to determine a stimulation pattern and visual perception threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Alan Horsager, Scott Greenwald, Mark Humayun, Matthew McMahon, Ione Fine, Robert Greenberg, Geoffrey Boynton
  • Publication number: 20070255343
    Abstract: Methods and devices for fitting a visual prosthesis are described. In one of the methods, threshold levels and maximum levels for the electrodes of the prosthesis are determined and a map of brightness to electrode stimulation levels is later formed. A fitting system for a visual prosthesis is also discussed, together with a computer-operated system having a graphical user interface showing visual prosthesis diagnostic screens and visual prosthesis configuration screens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Matthew McMahon, Arup Roy, Scott Greenwald, Ione Fine, Alan Horsager, Avraham Caspi, Kelly McClure, Robert Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20070191911
    Abstract: The invention is a method of automatically adjusting an electrode array to the neural characteristics of an individual subject. The response to electrical neural stimulation varies from subject to subject. Measure of impedance may be used to predict the electrode height from the neural tissue and, thereby, predict the threshold of perception. Alternatively, electrode height may be measured directly to predict the threshold of perception. Also, impedance measurement may be used to quickly identify defective electrodes and proper electrode placement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Greenberg, Ione Fine, Arup Roy, Matthew McMahon, Mark Humayun, James Weiland, Alan Horsager, Dao Zhou, Amy Hines, Sumit Yadav, Rongqing Dai
  • Publication number: 20060184062
    Abstract: The invention is a method of automatically adjusting an electrode array to the neural characteristics of an individual patient. The perceptual response to electrical neural stimulation varies from patient to patient and The response to electrical neural stimulation varies from patient to patient and the relationship between current and perceived brightness is often non-linear. It is necessary to determine this relationship to fit the prosthesis settings for each patient. It is advantageous to map the perceptual responses to stimuli. The method of mapping of the present invention is to provide a plurality of stimuli that vary in current, voltage, pulse duration, frequency, or some other dimension; measuring and recording the response to those stimuli; deriving a formula or equation describing the map from the individual points; storing the formula; and using that formula to map future stimulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Greenberg, Ione Fine, Arup Roy, Matthew McMahon
  • Publication number: 20050058351
    Abstract: A method for determining if a first pixel and a second pixel belong to a same surface includes: determining a spatial-difference value for the first pixel and the second pixel; determining one or more vision-difference values for the first pixel and the second pixel; determining, from the spatial-difference value, an initial same-surface probability value for if the first pixel and the second pixel belong to the same surface; determining, from the one or more vision-difference values, a first vision-difference probability value for if the first pixel and the second pixel belong to the same surface; determining, from the spatial-difference value and the one or more vision-difference values, a second vision-difference probability value; determining, from the initial same-surface probability value, the first vision-difference probability value and the second vision-difference probability value, an improved same-surface probability value for if the first pixel and the second pixel belong to the same surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Ione Fine, Geoffrey Boynton