Wearable apparatus for delivery of power to a retinal prosthesis
Apparatus is provided including an extraocular device, which includes an eyeglasses frame, which is placed in front of an eye of a subject, and a power source coupled to the eyeglasses frame and configured to emit a beam of light that is outside of 380-750 nm. A light-guiding element is coupled to the eyeglasses frame and at least one optical coupling-in element and at least one optical coupling-out element are optically coupled to the light-guiding element. The coupling-in element is positioned such that the beam of light is directed into the light-guiding element via the coupling-in element, and the coupling-in and coupling-out elements are positioned such that the beam diverges from a focal point located within 3 mm of the coupling-out element. Other applications are also described.
1. Apparatus comprising an extraocular device comprising:
an eyeglasses frame, configured to be placed in front of an eye of a subject;
a power source coupled to the eyeglasses frame and configured to emit a beam of light that is outside of 380-750 nm;
a light-guiding element coupled to the eyeglasses frame; and
at least one optical coupling-in element and at least one optical coupling-out element that are optically coupled to the light-guiding element,
the coupling-in element being positioned such that the beam of light is directed into the light-guiding element via the coupling-in element, and
the coupling-in and coupling-out elements being positioned such that the beam diverges from a focal point that is located in an optical path between the coupling-in and coupling-out elements, and at a distance that is within 3 mm of the coupling-out element.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a laser.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling-in and coupling-out elements are positioned so as to create a defocused spot of light on a retina of the subject.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a surface of the light-guiding element is shaped to form the optical coupling-in element.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a surface of the light-guiding element is shaped to form the optical coupling-out element.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling-in and coupling-out elements are positioned such that the beam diverges at a divergence angle of 5-30 degrees.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the extraocular device does not comprise a camera.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the extraocular device is not configured to project an image composed of pixels.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the extraocular device is configured to allow ambient light to enter the eye.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light-guiding element comprises a prism.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the optical coupling-in element is selected from the group consisting of: a lens, a mirror, a grating, and a prism.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling-out element comprises a dichroic mirror.