Accommodation stimulation and recording device

Abstract

Embodiments described herein generally relate to devices and methods for stimulation or recording of accommodation of an eye. Accommodation of an eye naturally occurs through contraction of the ciliary muscle. Embodiments described herein can deliver electrostimulation to the ciliary muscle through a pair of electrodes which deliver power over an area of the sclera which is both positioned above and over an area which is substantially equivalent to the surface area of the ciliary muscle. In further embodiments, electrical impulses produced by the ciliary muscle can be received by one or more electrodes positioned proximate the ciliary muscle. Thus, by embodiments described herein, accommodation of the eye can be reproducibly achieved by external stimulation of the ciliary muscle or measured based on electrical impulses generated by or in conjunction with the ciliary muscle.

1 . An electrostimulation device, comprising:
 a device body with a circular shape and an outer circumference, the device body comprising a posterior surface and an anterior surface, the posterior surface being shaped to fit an eye;   an inner ring electrode comprising an electrically-conductive material and formed on the posterior surface;   an outer ring electrode comprising an electrically-conductive material and formed on the posterior surface; and   an electrical stimulation source in electrical connection with the inner ring electrode and the outer ring electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The electrostimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive material comprises a biocompatible conductive material. 
     
     
         3 . The electrostimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein the device body is composed of a non-conductive material. 
     
     
         4 . The electrostimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer ring electrode, the inner ring electrode and the outer circumference of the device body form concentric circles. 
     
     
         5 . The electrostimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer ring electrode and the inner ring electrode are positioned on the sclera such that the outer ring electrode is formed around an outer boundary of a ciliary muscle and the inner ring electrode is formed around an inner boundary of the ciliary muscle. 
     
     
         6 . The electrostimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical stimulation source comprises a battery formed on or in the device body. 
     
     
         7 . The electrostimulation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless connection for communication between the electrostimulation device and a computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The electrostimulation device of  claim 1 , further comprising an intraocular lens. 
     
     
         9 . The electrostimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the inner ring electrode and the outer ring electrode with relation to a ciliary muscle of the eye is determined using intraocular imaging, such that the inner ring electrode is positioned over the outer boundary of the ciliary muscle and the outer ring electrode is positioned over an outer boundary of the ciliary muscle. 
     
     
         10 . An accommodation stimulation device comprising:
 a device body comprising:
 a transparent lens with a posterior surface and an anterior surface, the posterior surface adapted to contact the cornea; and 
 a scleral contact region with a posterior surface and an anterior surface, the scleral contact region circumscribing the transparent lens; 
   an inner ring electrode comprising an electrically-conductive material adapted to contact the posterior surface of the scleral contact region;   an outer ring electrode comprising an electrically conductive material adapted to contact the posterior surface of the scleral contact region and circumscribing the inner ring electrode; and   a power source in electrical connection with the inner ring electrode and the outer ring electrode.   
     
     
         11 . The accommodation stimulation device of  claim 10 , wherein the electrically-conductive material is composed of a biocompatible conductive material. 
     
     
         12 . The accommodation stimulation device of  claim 10 , wherein scleral contact region is composed of a non-conductive material. 
     
     
         13 . The accommodation stimulation device of  claim 10 , wherein the outer ring electrode, the inner ring electrode and the outer circumference of the device body forming concentric circles 
     
     
         14 . The accommodation stimulation device of  claim 10 , wherein the outer ring electrode and the inner ring electrode are composed of a plurality of rings. 
     
     
         15 . The accommodation stimulation device of  claim 10 , wherein the electrical stimulation source comprises a battery formed on or in the device body. 
     
     
         16 . The accommodation stimulation device of  claim 10 , further comprising a wireless connection for communication between the electrostimulation device and a computing device. 
     
     
         17 . The accommodation stimulation device of  claim 10 , further comprising an intraocular lens. 
     
     
         18 . The accommodation stimulation device of  claim 10 , wherein the transparent lens is a corrective lens. 
     
     
         19 . An accommodation measurement device comprising:
 a device body with a circular shape and an outer circumference, the device body comprising a posterior surface and an anterior surface;   an inner ring electrode comprising an electrically-conductive material and formed on the posterior surface;   an outer ring electrode comprising an electrically-conductive material and formed on the posterior surface, the outer ring electrode, the inner ring electrode and the outer circumference of the device body forming concentric circles; and   an electrical measurement device in electrical connection with either the inner ring electrode, the outer ring electrode or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         20 . The accommodation measurement device of  claim 19 , further comprising a recording device connected to the electrical measurement device, such that the recording device can receive one or more signals or one or more converted signals from the electrical measurement device which correspond to an accommodation event.