• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 2017

We propose a novel multi-photodiode array (MPDA) based retinal implant IC with on/off stimulation strategy for a visual prosthesis with improved spatial resolution. An active pixel sensor combined with a comparator enables generation of biphasic current pulses when light intensity meets a threshold condition. The threshold is tuned by changing the discharging time of the active pixel sensor for various light intensity environments. A prototype of the 30-channel retinal implant IC was fabricated with a unit pixel area of $0.021mm^2$, and the stimulus level up to $354{\mu}A$ was measured with the threshold ranging from 400 lx to 13120 lx.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.60 no.2
• /
• pp.133-137
• /
• 2022

Toxocariasis is one of the most common geohelminth infections in several parts of the world. We describe a rare case of ocular toxocariasis with secondary exudative retinal detachment treated with albendazole and an intravitreal dexamethasone implant. A 13-year-old boy with counting finger vision was diagnosed with retinal vasculitis and exudative retinal detachment in his right eye. Fundoscopic examination revealed retinal hemorrhage, retinal vasculitis, and exudative retinal detachment. Serological test using serum and intraocular aqueous humor were positive for anti-Toxocara specific IgG antibodies. He received repeated doses of intravitreal dexamethasone implants combined with oral albendazole. A sequential follow-up optical coherence tomography revealed that the retina was successfully reattached. His visual acuity subsequently improved to 20/400.

• 한국가시화정보학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2002.04a
• /
• pp.51-78
• /
• 2002

A number of research groups worldwide are studying electronic implants that can be mounted on retinal optic nerve/visual cortex to restore vision of patients suffering from retinal degeneration. The implants consist of a neural interface made of biocompatible materials, one or more integrated circuits for stimuli generation, a camera, an image processor, and a telemetric channel. The realization of these classes of neural prosthetic devices is largely due to the explosive development of micro- and nano-electronics technologies in the late $20^{th}$ century and biotechnologies more recently. Animal experiments showed promise and some human experiments are in progress to indicate that recognition of images can be obtained and improved over time. We, at NBS-ERC of SNU, have started our own retinal implant project in 2000. We have selected polyimide as the biomaterial for an epi-retinal stimulator. In-vitro and in-vivo biocompatibility studies have been performed on the electrode arrays. We have obtained good affinity to retinal pigment epithelial cells and no harmful effect. The implant also showed very good stability and safety in rabbit eye for 12 weeks. We have also demonstrated that through proper stimulation of inner retina, meaning vision can be obtained.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.12-21
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review previous literature with an aim to explore the sleep disturbance level after a patient undergoes cataract surgery using an integrative review. Methods: We used the key words, 'cataract surgery', 'sleep', and 'intraocular lens' to find peer-reviewed publications in seven databases. Among 450 searched articles, eight articles were selected after exclusion of articles that did not meet the criteria. Results: Five of the articles submitted that subjective sleep quality of the patients with blue-filtering intraocular lens (BF-IOL) implant improved as compared to that before surgery. The change of saliva melatonin concentration after BF-IOL implant did not coincide in two of the articles. Two of the articles reported an increased level of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells response after BF-IOL implantation. Conclusion: The published studies stated that BF-IOL implant did not have any negative impact on quality of sleep among cataract patients suffering with poor sleep. Rregardless of intraocular lens type, cataract surgery may increase photoreception of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells one year after surgery although the mechanism was not clear. It is necessary to identify various factors influencing the quality of sleep such as gender and activities among cataract patients with BF-IOL implant in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.221-227
• /
• 2009

For successful restoration of visual function by a visual neural prosthesis such as retinal implant, electrical stimulation should evoke neural responses so that the informat.ion on visual input is properly represented. A stimulation strategy, which means a method for generating stimulation waveforms based on visual input, should be developed for this purpose. We proposed to use the decoding of visual input from retinal ganglion cell (RGC) responses for the evaluation of stimulus encoding strategy. This is based on the assumption that reliable encoding of visual information in RGC responses is required to enable successful visual perception. The main purpose of this study was to determine the influence of inter-dependence among stimulated RGCs activities on decoding accuracy. Light intensity variations were decoded from multiunit RGC spike trains using an optimal linear filter. More accurate decoding was possible when different types of RGCs were used together as input. Decoding accuracy was enhanced with independently firing RGCs compared to synchronously firing RGCs. This implies that stimulation of independently-firing RGCs and RGCs of different types may be beneficial for visual function restoration by retinal prosthesis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.443-448
• /
• 2009

For successful visual perception by visual prosthesis using electrical stimulation, it is essential to develop an effective stimulation strategy based on understanding of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) responses to electrical stimulation. We studied RGC responses to repetitive electrical stimulation pulses to develop a stimulation strategy using stimulation pulse frequency modulation. Retinal patches of photoreceptor-degenerated retinas from rd1 mice were attached to a planar multi-electrode array (MEA) and RGC spike trains responding to electrical stimulation pulse trains with various pulse frequencies were observed. RGC responses were strongly dependent on inter-pulse interval when it was varied from 500 to 10 ms. Although the evoked spikes were suppressed with increasing pulse rate, the number of evoked spikes were >60% of the maximal responses when the inter-pulse intervals exceeded 100 ms. Based on this, we investigated the modulation of evoked RGC firing rates while increasing the pulse frequency from 1 to 10 pulses per second (or Hz) to deduce the optimal pulse frequency range for modulation of RGC response strength. RGC response strength monotonically and linearly increased within the stimulation frequency of 1~9 Hz. The results suggest that the evoked neural activities of RGCs in degenerated retina can be reliably controlled by pulse frequency modulation, and may be used as a stimulation strategy for visual neural prosthesis.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.110-114
• /
• 2021

Retrobulbar hemorrhage is a disastrous condition that can lead to permanent blindness. As such, rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical. Here, we report a patient who presented with retrobulbar hemorrhage following an orbital floor fracture. Restoration of inferior orbital wall with porous polyethylene implant was underwent. Four days after the orbital floor reconstruction, the patient smoked a cigarette outdoors in -3℃ weather. Cold temperature and smoking caused an increase in his systemic blood pressure. The elevated blood pressure increased intraorbital pressure to the extent of causing central retinal artery occlusion and exacerbated oozing. During exploratory surgery, 3 mL of hematoma and diffuse oozing without arterial bleeding were observed. Prompt diagnosis and treatment prevented vision impairment. Few studies have reported on the risk factors for retrobulbar hemorrhage. This case showed that daily activities, such as exposure to cold weather or tobacco smoking, could be risk factors for retrobulbar hemorrhage.