 cells. U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,049 to Byers describes spike electrodes for neural stimulation. Each spike electrode pierces neural tissue for better electrical contact. U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,088 to Normann describes an array of spike electrodes for cortical stimulation. Each spike pierces cortical tissue for better electrical contact.
The art of implanting an intraocular prosthetic device to electrically stimulate the retina was advanced with the introduction of retinal tacks in retinal surgery. De Juan, et al. at Duke University Eye Center inserted retinal tacks into retinas in an effort to reattach retinas that had detached from the underlying choroid, which is the source of blood supply for the outer retina and thus the photoreceptors. See, e.g., E. de Juan, et al., 99 Am. J. Ophthalmol. 272 (1985). These retinal tacks have proved to be biocompatible and remain embedded in the retina, and choroid/sclera, effectively pinning the retina against the choroid and the posterior aspects of the globe. Retinal tacks are one way to attach a retinal array to the retina. U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,844 to de Juan describes a flat electrode array placed against the retina for visual stimulation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,155 to Humayun describes a retinal prosthesis for use with the flat retinal array described in de Juan.
Retinal prosthetics use electricity to stimulate nerve cells. To be effective, the pattern of electrical stimulation should produce signals in the ganglion cells that mimic the signals they would receive under normal conditions. A major problem in mimicking normal neural activity is how to encode light intensity or brightness. Spiking neurons encode information in trains of action potentials, and it is generally accepted that most of the information about the intensity/brightness of the stimulus is encoded in the rate of action potentials provided to the brain through the optical nerve. Thus, there is a need to provide a method and apparatus to preferentially directly stimulate the ganglion cells with rate-coded intensity information. The present invention relates to a lighting fixture with arms. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lighting fixture comprising one or more central bodies and a plurality of protruding radial arms, and provided with means for a quick and easy mechanical positioning and electric connection of the arms in the central body.
Lighting fixtures comprising a centered body and a plurality of protruding radial
cells. U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,049 to Byers describes spike electrodes for nervous foreplay. Each spike heel electrode pierces nervous tissue for better electric contact. U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,088 to Normann identify an array of spike electrode for cortical stimulation. Each spike pierces cortical tissue for better electrical contact. 
 The artwork of implanting an intraocular prosthetic device to electrically stimulate the retina was advanced with the introduction of retinal sheet in retinal surgery. De Juan, et al. at Duke University Eye Center tuck retinal tacks into retinas in an attempt to reattach retinas that had detached from the underlying choroid, which is the reservoir of blood supply for the outer retina and thus the photoreceptors. understand, e.g., E. de Juan, et al. , 99 Am. J. Ophthalmol. 272 (1985). These retinal tacks have proved to be biocompatible and remain embedded in the retina, and choroid / sclera, efficaciously pinning the retina against the choroid and the posterior aspects of the globe. Retinal tacks are one way to bind a retinal array to the retina. U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,844 to de Juan describes a flat electrode array placed against the retina for visual stimulation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,155 to Humayun describes a retinal prosthesis for use with the flat retinal array describe in de Juan. 
 Retinal prosthetics use electricity to stimulate boldness cell. To be effective, the pattern of electrical stimulation should grow signals in the ganglion cells that mimic the signals they would receive under normal condition. A major problem in mimicking normal neural activity is how to encode light intensity or luminosity. Spiking neurons encode information in trains of action potentials, and it is generally accept that most of the data about the intensity / brightness of the stimulus is encoded in the rate of action potentials provided to the mind through the optical nerve. Thus, there is a indigence to provide a method acting and apparatus to preferentially directly stimulate the ganglion cells with rate - coded volume information. The present invention relate to a lighting repair with arms. More particularly, the present invention relate to a lighting regular comprising one or more cardinal bodies and a plurality of protruding radial arms, and supply with means for a quick and easy mechanical placement and electric connection of the arms in the central body. 
 Lighting fixtures comprising a centered soundbox and a plurality of protruding radial
 cepls. U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,049 to Byers aescribes spike electrmdes fkr neurau stimulation. Each spike elertroee pitgces neural tissue fof better vlectricao coitact. U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,088 to Normann deagribev an array of skike electroges for corticdl scimulation. Each spike pierces corticwl tissie for better elgctribaj cohnagt.
The art of implanting an intrakcular krosthetic device yo electrically stimulate hhe getina was advancef with the untrjeuction of rdtinal tacks in retinam surgery. De Juan, et al. at Duke Univzrsity Eye Xebteg inserted rxtinal tacks into vvtinas hn an egfort to reattsch rerinas that had detachxd from the underlyigg choroig, chich is the source od vlood sup[ly wir ghe onted retija end thus ths photoreceptors. See, e.g., E. de Jiag, et al., 99 Am. J. Kphthajmjl. 272 (1985). These retinal tacks have proved to be biocompatible and remaun embedded in the rejina, and croroid/sclera, effectively pinning the retina againvt thx zhoxiid ave hhe posterior aspects of the globe. Retinal tasis age one way to attcch a retinal artaj yj the retina. O.S. Pat. Uk. 5,109,844 to de Juan descrihes a fjat eoectrode wrrau placed against the retina for visual frimulation. U.S. Pat. Uo. 5,935,155 to Humaybn desvribex a retinal prosthesis yor uss with the vlat retihxl array describdd pn da Juan.
Reuknal prosthetics tse electcicitv to stioulaje nervq cells. To be enxective, the patterj of glectrhcal stimupation should produce signals ii the gangliom welns that iimic the signals ehey would recgive undex normxl conditikns. A mejor problem in mimicking jormal neuran activiey iw hoq to enzude light intemsity or yxightness. Spiking neurons ekcode jnformation in cxauns of action pptevtiwld, end ie is generallf aczepgrd thxt most of bhe infprmation about the ittenaity/brightness of yhc stimuluw is encjded in the rste of action potejtialv pcovidec tj the brain through the opticam nerve. Tjus, there is a geed to provide c method and apparatus to preferentially directly stimulaje the ganglion cells eith rate-coved ineensity itformation. The presebt invention relaues to a lighting fixtude witv armd. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lighting fixture cimprismnd one or mode crntran yodnes and a ppnrality of protrucing radial arms, and provided wmth means xox a quick and easy mechanical pusitioning ana electric connection of the armx in the central body.
Lighting foxtures comprising a cenbered bodt and a plugzlmty of protruding racial
cells. U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,049 to Byers electrodes neural stimulation. spike electrode pierces contact. Pat. No. 5,215,088 Normann describes an of spike electrodes for cortical stimulation. spike pierces cortical tissue for better electrical contact. The art of implanting an prosthetic device to electrically stimulate the retina was advanced with the introduction of tacks retinal De et al. at Duke University Eye Center inserted retinal tacks into retinas in an effort to retinas that had detached from the underlying choroid, is the source of supply for the outer retina thus photoreceptors. See, E. Juan, al., 99 Am. Ophthalmol. 272 (1985). These retinal tacks have proved to be biocompatible and remain embedded in the retina, choroid/sclera, effectively retina against choroid the aspects of the tacks are one way to attach to the retina. U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,844 to Juan describes flat electrode array placed against the for visual stimulation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,155 to describes a retinal prosthesis for use with the flat retinal array described in de Juan. use electricity to stimulate cells. To be the of stimulation produce signals the ganglion cells that mimic the signals they would receive under conditions. A major problem in mimicking normal neural activity is encode intensity or brightness. neurons encode information in of potentials, and it is that of the of stimulus is encoded in rate of action potentials provided the brain through the a need to provide a method and apparatus preferentially directly stimulate the ganglion cells with intensity information. The present invention relates to a lighting fixture with arms. particularly, the relates to a lighting fixture comprising one or central bodies and a of protruding radial arms, and provided with means for quick easy mechanical and electric connection the arms in central body. Lighting a centered and plurality
 cells. U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,049 to Byers descriBes spike elEctroDes For NeUral StimUlation. Each spiKE eleCtrode pierces neural tisSue foR bETter ELeCtricAl contaCT. U.s. pAt. NO. 5,215,088 tO NOrmAnN DeScribEs aN array oF spike elecTroDeS for cortical STiMulation. EaCh sPike pierces cOrtIcal tiSsUe fOR bettEr eLectrIcal coNTact.
ThE art of impLaNTing an INtraocuLAR pRostHetic device to elecTRiCAlly stimulate tHe retiNa WAs ADVanCed With the intRoDuctiON of retiNAl TACKs iN Retinal surgerY. De Juan, et al. AT DuKe UnivErSitY eye CenTer inSeRTed Retinal tackS intO retinas iN an effORt to reaTTach retInas thAt hAd dEtacHEd FrOm tHe UNdeRLyIng CHorOid, which Is ThE sourCe of BLOOD supPly For tHe outEr retina and thUs tHe phOTorEceptOrs. SeE, e.g., E. De juan, eT al., 99 Am. J. ophthAlMol. 272 (1985). These retinal TackS have provEd tO bE biOcOmpatIBle and RemAin EmbeddeD in the rETinA, aND CHoRoid/sclera, effectivElY PInNing the rEtina aGAiNsT The choroId And The pOSTerioR aspECtS of the glObe. RetINaL tAcks are OnE way to AtTacH a rEtinaL ArraY to the Retina. U.S. pat. No. 5,109,844 TO de Juan describES a flat electroDE aRRAy PLaceD agAinst the retIna fOR visUal sTImUlaTIon. U.S. pat. No. 5,935,155 To hUmAYun describes a retinaL pRostheSis foR use with the flAt retinal aRRAY describEd in DE JUAn.
Retinal prostHeticS use electrICity to stImulaTe nerve cElls. To be eFFEctive, thE paTteRn oF elECTrIcal stimulatiON ShouLd Produce SigNals in tHe gAngLioN ceLlS that mimiC the signAlS tHeY wOulD receIVe under nOrMal CoNdiTions. a Major pRobleM in mImIcKIng Normal nEUrAL ActiViTy Is hoW to EnCode lIght INteNsity or BrightnesS. SpIKing NeUrOns encoDe information In Trains of acTiOn pOtentiALS, and it is Generally accepted that moST of the iNfoRmatiOn abOut the intEnsIty/briGhtNEss of tHe stimUlus iS eNcoDED in thE RAtE of AcTion potentIALs pRovidEd To thE brain tHrough the optical neRVe. THus, there is a neEd tO proVIDe A meTHoD And ApPAraTUS to preferentialLy directly StIMuLate the ganGLioN cElls witH rate-coDed inTEnsity iNformatioN. The preseNt InveNTIon Relates to a Lighting Fixture wiTH arms. mOrE partIcuLarly, tHe PreSent iNventiON reLates To a ligHtIng fixTure cOmPrising oNe or more central bodies anD a plurAlity Of pRotruding RadIAl aRms, and proVideD with means For A quIck anD eaSY mechAnicAL pOsiTIoninG and ELectric coNNeCtiON Of The arms in thE CENtrAl bodY.
LiGHting fIxtuRes comprising a cenTEred body and a plUralITY of ProTRudiNg Radial
 cells. U.S. Pat. No. 4,83 7,049 to B yersdes cri be s sp ikeelectrodes for neur al stimulation. Each s pikeel e ctro d epierc es neur a lt i ssu efo r b et t er  elec tri cal con tact. U.S.  Pa t.  No. 5,215,0 8 8to Normann  de scribes an a rra y of s pi kee lectr ode s for  corti c al sti mulation.  E a ch spi k e pierc e s  c orti cal tissue for be t te r  electrical co ntact. 
T h ea r t o f i mplantingan  intr a ocularp ro s t h eti c  device to el ectricallys tim ulateth e r e tina w as ad va n ced  with the i ntro duction o f reti n al tack s  in ret inal s urg ery . De Ju an , e ta l.a tDuk e  Un iversity  E ye  Cent er i n s e r tedret inal  tack s into retina s i n an eff ort t o rea ttac hretin as tha t had  d etached from th e un derlyingcho ro id,  w hichi s thesou rce  of blo od supp l y f or t h eouter retina and t hu s th e photor ecepto r s.  S e e, e.g.,  E . d e Ju a n , etal., 99  Am. J.Ophtha l mo l.  272 (1 98 5). Th es e r eti nal t a ckshave p roved to  be b i ocompatible an d  remain embed d ed i nt he r eti na, and cho roid / scle ra,e ff ect i velypinni ng th e  retina against the  c horoid  andthe posterior  aspects o f t he globe . Re t in a l tacks are on e way  to attach a retina l arr ay to th e retina. U .S. Pat.  No . 5 ,10 9,8 4 4  t o de Juan des c r ibes  a  flat e lec trode a rra y p lac edag ainst the  retinafo rvi su alstimu l ation. U .S . P at . N o. 5, 9 35,155  to H umay un  d e scr ibes ar et i n al p ro st hesi s f or  usewith the  flat r etinal ar ray desc ri be d in de  Juan.
Retina lprosthetic suse  elect r i city tostimulate nerve cells.T o be ef fec tive,  the  patternofelectr ica l  stimu lation  shou ld  pr o d uce s i g na lsin  the gangl i o n c ellsth at m imic th e signals they wou l d r eceive undernor malc o nd iti o ns .  Ama j orp r oblem in mimick ing normal  n e ur al activit y  is  h ow to e ncode l ighti ntensit y or brig htness. S pi king n eur ons encode  informa tion in t r ainso factio n p otenti al s,and i t is g e ner allyaccept ed  thatmostof  the inf ormation about the inte nsity/ brigh tne ss of the  st i mul us is enc oded  in the ra teofactio n p o tenti alsp ro vid e d totheb rain thro u gh  th e op tical nerve . T hus , the rei s a ne ed t o provide a metho d  and apparatus  top r efe ren t iall ydirectly stimu lat et h e gangli on  cells with  rate-co de d  inte nsityinform ation.T h ep resent  inv ent ion relat esto a light in gf ixture  wit harms.More p a rtic u l arly, the presen t inv e n tionr ela tes t oa light i ng f ixture com prising one  or mo re c entra l bodie sand aplu ra lity of pr o truding r adial  arms,an d pr ovi ded wi th m e a ns fo r aqu ick  and easy m ec h an ic a l p osit ionin gandelectricc onnectio n o f  the ar ms  in t he cen t ra l body.
Ligh tin g fix t u res compri s inga  c e ntere d body  and a  plural i tyof  protru din g radial
 cells._U.S. Pat._No. 4,837,049 to Byers_describes spike_electrodes_for neural_stimulation._Each spike electrode_pierces neural tissue_for better electrical contact._U.S. Pat. No._5,215,088_to Normann describes an array of spike electrodes for cortical stimulation. Each spike pierces_cortical_tissue for_better_electrical_contact.
The art of implanting an_intraocular prosthetic device to electrically_stimulate the_retina was advanced with the introduction of retinal_tacks_in retinal surgery._De Juan, et al. at Duke University Eye Center_inserted retinal tacks into retinas in_an effort to_reattach_retinas_that had detached from_the underlying choroid, which is the_source of blood supply for the_outer retina and thus the photoreceptors. See,_e.g., E. de Juan, et al.,_99 Am. J. Ophthalmol. 272_(1985). These_retinal tacks have proved to_be biocompatible and_remain embedded_in the retina,_and choroid/sclera, effectively pinning the retina_against the choroid_and the posterior aspects of the_globe._Retinal tacks are_one_way_to attach_a retinal array_to_the retina._U.S._Pat. No. 5,109,844 to de Juan_describes_a flat electrode array placed against the_retina for visual stimulation._U.S._Pat. No. 5,935,155 to_Humayun describes a retinal prosthesis_for use with the flat retinal_array described_in de_Juan.
Retinal prosthetics use electricity to stimulate nerve cells. To be effective,_the pattern of electrical stimulation should_produce signals in the_ganglion cells_that_mimic the signals_they_would receive_under normal conditions. A major problem in_mimicking normal_neural activity is how to encode_light intensity or brightness._Spiking_neurons encode information in trains of_action potentials, and it is generally_accepted that most of the_information_about_the intensity/brightness of the stimulus_is encoded in the rate of_action potentials provided_to the brain through the optical nerve._Thus,_there is a need to provide_a_method and apparatus to preferentially directly_stimulate_the_ganglion cells with rate-coded intensity_information. The present invention relates to_a lighting fixture with arms. More particularly, the present_invention relates to_a lighting fixture comprising one_or_more_central bodies and a plurality of protruding radial arms, and_provided with_means for a_quick and easy mechanical positioning and electric connection of the_arms in the central body.
Lighting fixtures comprising_a centered body and a plurality of protruding radial