Alan Y Chow

US Patent:

6389317, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Mar 31, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/539399

Inventors:

Vincent Chow - Hanover Park IL
Alan Y. Chow - Wheaton IL

Assignee:

Optobionics Corporation - Wheaton IL

International Classification:

A61N 118

US Classification:

607 54

Abstract:

A visible and infrared light powered retinal implant is disclosed that is implanted into the subretinal space for electrically inducing formed vision in the eye. The retinal implant includes a stacked microphotodetector arrangement having an image sensing pixel layer and a voltage and current gain adjustment layer for providing variable voltage and current gain to the implant so as to obtain better low light implant performance than the prior art, and to compensate for high retinal stimulation thresholds present in some retinal diseases. A first light filter is positioned on one of the microphotodetectors in each of the image sensing pixels of the implant, and a second light filter is positioned on the other of the microphotodetectors in the image sensing pixel of the implant, each of the microphotodetectors of the pixel to respond to a different wavelength of light to produce a sensation of darkness utilizing the first wavelength, and a sensation of light using the second wavelength, and a third light filter is positioned on a portion of the voltage and current gain adjustment layer that is exposed to light, to allow adjustment of the implant voltage and current gain of the device by use of a third wavelength of light.

US Patent:

6427087, Jul 30, 2002

Filed:

May 4, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/564841

Inventors:

Alan Y. Chow - Wheaton IL
Vincent Y. Chow - Hanover Park IL

Assignee:

Optobionics Corporation - Wheaton IL

International Classification:

A61N 108

US Classification:

607 54, 623 663

Abstract:

An artificial retinal device, implanted in the subretinal space of the eye in persons with certain types of retinal blindness, induces artificial vision by electrical stimulation of the remaining viable cells of the retina. The artificial retina device includes a stimulating electrode unit preferably placed in the subretinal space, and a tail-like extension housing a distant electrical return ground electrode unit that may be placed in the vitreous cavity. The stimulating electrode unit includes an array of electrode subunits. Each electrode subunit includes one or more microphotodiodes electrically connected, for example, in series to provide increased voltage and current to its microelectrode. The stimulating electrode unit and the ground return electrode of the ground return electrode unit are preferably disposed on opposite sides of the neuroretina to allow for efficient and high resolution transretinal electrical stimulation of the neuroretinal cells. Additional photodiodes may be incorporated into the circuitry of the artificial retina device to provide additional bias voltage and current to the microelectrode subunits of the stimulating electrode unit.

US Patent:

6574022, Jun 3, 2003

Filed:

Mar 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/812214

Inventors:

Alan Y. Chow - Wheaton IL 60187
Vincent Y. Chow - Hanover Park IL

Assignee:

Alan Y. Chow - Wheaton IL

International Classification:

H04B 1000

US Classification:

359189, 385 83, 385 14, 385 50, 359191, 359195

Abstract:

An optical signal receiver for rapid and error free translation of optical signals into electrical signals is disclosed. The receiver is coupled to a light source. The light source is amplified and then split into two segments. One of the segments is delayed by a specific amount of time. Both segments are optically coupled to a photo detector. Each photo detector is coupled in parallel and are connected by two output terminals. When the voltage output by each photo detector is equal, the output terminals are balanced and will not have any voltage. The circuit will provide a voltage output on the terminal only on differential photocurrents sensed by the detector elements. The quiescent magnitude of the voltage output is a function of the value of the reverse bias voltage applied by the two voltage sources.

US Patent:

6609840, Aug 26, 2003

Filed:

Apr 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/828337

Inventors:

Alan Y. Chow - Wheaton IL 60187
Vincent Y. Chow - Hanover Park IL

Assignee:

Alan Y. Chow - Wheaton IL

International Classification:

H04J 400

US Classification:

398102, 398 47, 398 51, 398 53, 398 54, 398 77, 398 79, 398 82

Abstract:

A system and method are disclosed for carrying additional information data on multiplexed signals which are modulated on different wavelengths. An information code such as an address or control data for a particular data signal at a selected wavelength is overlaid on the parallel multiplexed signals. The information code may be overlaid by attenuation or changing the amplitude of the different signals. A separate marker channel at a separate wavelength is also multiplexed with the data signals to indicate the presence of an information code. An optical data detector array is used to optically determine the encoded address by comparing the signals with light levels and producing an output when a matching code is detected. The optical data detector array uses a series of detectors each corresponding to the wavelength of light signals carrying the information data. The detectors each have two photo detectors which are wired in parallel with each other to produce a voltage output when different light levels are detected on the two photo detectors.

US Patent:

6611716, Aug 26, 2003

Filed:

Apr 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/824519

Inventors:

Vincent Chow - Hanover Park IL
Alan Y. Chow - Wheaton IL

Assignee:

Optobionics Corporation - Naperville IL

International Classification:

A61N 118

US Classification:

607 54

Abstract:

An artificial retina device and a method for stimulating and modulating its function is disclosed. The artificial retina device is comprised of plural multi-phasic microphotodiode subunits. In persons suffering from blindness due to outer retinal layer damage, a plurality of such devices, when surgically implanted into the subretinal space, may allow useful formed artificial vision to develop. One device, called a MMRI-4, transduces light into electric currents to stimulate the retina. The four microphotodiode subunits of the MMRI-4 are oriented so that each flattened sides of the MMRI-4 has two subunits in a PiN configuration and two subunits in a NiP configuration. The flattened cubic shape of the MMRI-4 will allow one or the other of the two flattened sides to be preferentially directed toward incident light when implanted in the subretinal space. Because both the PiN and NiP configurations are present on each of the flattened sides of the MMRI-4, electric currents which produce the sensation of light from a PiN current, or darkness from a NiP current, can be induced regardless of which the flattened photoactive sides faces incident light. Filter layers disposed on the PiN configuration will allow visible light to induce a PiN current, and filter layers disposed on the NiP configuration will allow infrared light to induce a NiP current.

US Patent:

6904239, Jun 7, 2005

Filed:

Jul 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/615857

Inventors:

Alan Y. Chow - Wheaton IL, US
Vincent Y. Chow - Hanover Park IL, US

International Classification:

H04J014/00
H04J014/08
H04B010/12
H04B010/06

US Classification:

398 49, 398 53, 398 57, 398102, 398141, 398202, 398207, 398214

Abstract:

A system and method are disclosed for carrying additional information data on multiplexed signals which are modulated on different wavelengths. An information code such as an address or control data for a particular data signal at a selected wavelength is overlaid on the parallel multiplexed signals. The information code may be overlaid by attenuation or changing the amplitude of the different signals. A separate marker channel at a separate wavelength is also multiplexed with the data signals to indicate the presence of an information code. An optical data detector array is used to optically determine the encoded address by comparing the signals with light levels and producing an output when a matching code is detected. The optical data detector array uses a series of detectors each corresponding to the wavelength of light signals carrying the information data. The detectors each have two photo detectors which are wired in parallel with each other to produce a voltage output when different light levels are detected on the two photo detectors.

US Patent:

7003354, Feb 21, 2006

Filed:

May 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/142277

Inventors:

Alan Y. Chow - Wheaton IL, US
Vincent Y. Chow - Hanover Park IL, US

Assignee:

Optobionics Corporation - Wheaton IL

International Classification:

A61N 1/18

US Classification:

607 54, 623 663

Abstract:

An artificial retinal device, implanted in the subretinal space of the eye in persons with certain types of retinal blindness, induces artificial vision by electrical stimulation of the remaining viable cells of the retina. The artificial retina device includes a stimulating electrode unit preferably placed in the subretinal space, and a tail-like extension housing a distant electrical return ground electrode unit that may be placed in the vitreous cavity. The stimulating electrode unit includes an array of electrode subunits. Each electrode subunit includes one or more microphotodiodes electrically connected, for example, in series to provide increased voltage and current to its microelectrode. The stimulating electrode unit and the ground return electrode of the ground return electrode unit are preferably disposed on opposite sides of the neuroretina to allow for efficient and high resolution transretinal electrical stimulation of the neuroretinal cells. Additional photodiodes may be incorporated into the circuitry of the artificial retina device to provide additional bias voltage and current to the microelectrode subunits of the stimulating electrode unit.

US Patent:

7006873, Feb 28, 2006

Filed:

Oct 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/690413

Inventors:

Vincent Chow - Hanover Park IL, US
Alan Y. Chow - Wheaton IL, US

Assignee:

Optobionics Corporation - Wheaton IL

International Classification:

A61N 1/18

US Classification:

607 54

Abstract:

A visible and infrared light powered retinal implant is disclosed that is implanted into the subretinal space for electrically inducing formed vision in the eye. The retinal implant includes a stacked microphotodetector arrangement having an image sensing pixel layer and a voltage and current gain adjustment layer for providing variable voltage and current gain to the implant so as to obtain better low light implant performance than the prior art, and to compensate for high retinal stimulation thresholds present in some retinal diseases. A first light filter is positioned on one of the microphotodetectors in each of the image sensing pixels of the implant, and a second light filter is positioned on the other of the microphotodetectors in the image sensing pixel of the implant, each of the microphotodetectors of the pixel to respond to a different wavelength of light to produce a sensation of darkness utilizing the first wavelength, and a sensation of light using the second wavelength, and a third light filter is positioned on a portion of the voltage and current gain adjustment layer that is exposed to light, to allow adjustment of the implant voltage and current gain of the device by use of a third wavelength of light.