Implantable modular system for a system for electrically stimulating a biological tissue

• US 10,070,992 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2016
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V. (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Pagani, Alberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Stice, Paula J
• Application Number:
  US15/093,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20160296377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/08 Devices or methods enabling eye-patients to replace direct visual perception by another kind of perception
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0543 Retinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

Described herein is a modular system for a system for electrically stimulating a biological tissue, which includes: a first device (32) including a number of electrodes (45), which in use contact the biological tissue; and a second device (34) including an electronic control circuit (55), which transmits stimulation signals. The second device may be operatively coupled in a releasable way to the first device, in such a way that the first device receives the stimulation signals transmitted by the second device.

Claims

1. A modular system for a system for electrically stimulating a portion of light sensitive biological tissue, comprising:

a first device comprising a number of electrodes configured to contact the portion of light sensitive biological tissue and comprising a top surface on an opposite side to the number of electrodes; and

a second device comprising an electronic control circuit configured to transmit stimulation signals, the second device comprising a bottom surface;

wherein said second device is mounted in contact with the first device via releasable contacts such that the first device receives the stimulation signals transmitted by the second device, the stimulation signals being transmitted from the bottom surface of the second device to the top surface of the first device, and then from the number of electrodes to the portion of light sensitive biological tissue.

2. The modular system according to claim 1, wherein each one of the first and second devices comprises a number of respective antennas, the antennas of the first device being electrically connected to the electrodes, wherein the electronic control circuit is configured to transmit said stimulation signals to the antennas of the second device, and wherein, when the second device is operatively coupled to the first device, the antennas of the first device receive the stimulation signals transmitted by the antennas of the second device.

3. The modular system according to claim 2, wherein said first device includes a number of cores of ferromagnetic material, and wherein said second device comprises a number of cavities, each cavity being configured to house a portion of a corresponding core when the first and second devices are mounted to each other and operatively coupled together.

4. The modular system according to claim 3, wherein each of the antennas of the first device is formed by at least one turn of conductive material, and wherein each core is surrounded by a corresponding antenna of the first device.

5. The modular system according to claim 3, wherein each of the antennas of the second device is formed by at least one turn of conductive material, and wherein each cavity is surrounded by a corresponding antenna of the second device.

6. The modular system according to claim 3, wherein each core is magnetized, and wherein each cavity is coated internally by a coating region of ferromagnetic material.

7. The modular system according to claim 2, wherein said second device includes a number of cores of ferromagnetic material, and wherein said first device comprises a number of cavities, each cavity being configured to house a portion of a corresponding core when the first and second devices are mounted to each other and operatively coupled together.

8. The modular system according to claim 7, wherein each of the antennas of the second device is formed by at least one turn of conductive material, and wherein each core is surrounded by a corresponding antenna of the second device.

9. The modular system according to claim 7, wherein each of the antennas of the first device is formed by at least one turn of conductive material, and wherein each cavity is surrounded by a corresponding antenna of the first device.

10. The modular system according to claim 7, wherein each core is magnetized, and wherein each cavity is coated internally by a coating region of ferromagnetic material.

11. The modular system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second devices includes at least one projecting element, and wherein another one of the first and second devices includes at least one recess, said projecting element being configured to couple mechanically to said recess.

12. The modular system according claim 1, further comprising a fastening device that includes a supporting element and is configured to be coupled to the portion of light sensitive biological tissue in such a way that, when the first and second devices are arranged between the supporting element and the portion of light sensitive biological tissue, the supporting element exerts on the second device a pressure such that the second device is fixed to the first device.

13. The modular system according to claim 12, wherein the fastening device includes at least one arm hinged to the supporting element and elastically displaceable between a resting state, where said arm is straight, and an operating state, where said arm is curved.

14. The modular system according to claim 1, wherein the second device comprises a supply antenna electrically connected to said electronic control circuit;

and further comprising an electromagnetic expansion formed by a first expansion antenna and a second expansion antenna that are electrically connected together, the first expansion antenna being configured to magnetically or electromagnetically couple to an external antenna, the second expansion antenna being configured to magnetically or electromagnetically couple to said supply antenna, the electromagnetic expansion being further configured to receive an electromagnetic supply signal transmitted by said external antenna and generate a corresponding replica through the second expansion antenna.

15. The modular system according to claim 14, further comprising a fastening device that includes a supporting element and is configured to be coupled to the portion of light sensitive biological tissue in such a way that, when the first and second devices are arranged between the supporting element and the portion of light sensitive biological tissue, the supporting element exerts on the second device a pressure such that the second device is fixed to the first device;

wherein said electromagnetic expansion is fixed with respect to the fastening device.

16. The modular system according to claim 14, wherein the electromagnetic expansion further comprises an electrical network including at least one of:

a reactive element and a matching network configured to match the impedances of the first and second expansion antennas.

17. The modular system of claim 1, forming a retinal prosthesis where the portion of light sensitive biological tissue is a portion of an inner surface of an eye.

18. The modular system according to claim 17, wherein the second device comprises a plurality of photodetectors on a receiving surface opposite to the bottom surface coupleable with the top surface of the first device, the plurality of photodetectors configured to generate corresponding electrical signals, and wherein the electronic control circuit is configured to generate said stimulation signals as a function of the electrical signals generated by the photodetectors.

19. The modular system according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the first and second devices includes at least one projecting element, and wherein another one of the first and second devices includes at least one recess, said projecting element being configured to couple mechanically to said recess.

20. The modular system according to claim 17, wherein the first device includes a first antenna and the second device includes a second antenna.

21. The modular system according to claim 20, wherein said first device includes a core of ferromagnetic material, and wherein said second device comprises a cavity configured to house a portion of said core when the first and second devices are mounted to each other and operatively coupled together.

22. The modular system according to claim 21, wherein the core is surrounded by the first antenna of the first device.

23. The modular system according to claim 21, wherein the cavity is surrounded by the second antenna of the second device.

24. The modular system according to claim 21, wherein the core is magnetized, and wherein the cavity is coated internally by a coating region of ferromagnetic material.

25. The modular system according to claim 20, wherein said second device includes a core of ferromagnetic material, and wherein the first device comprises a cavity configured to house a portion of said core when the first and second devices are mounted to each other and operatively coupled together.

26. The modular system according to claim 25, wherein the core is surrounded by the second antenna of the second device.

27. The modular system according to claim 25, wherein the cavity is surrounded by the first antenna of the first device.

28. The modular system according to claim 25, wherein the core is magnetized, and wherein the cavity is coated internally by a coating region of ferromagnetic material.