Visual prosthesis with operational data telemetry
First Claim
1. A retinal prosthetic for color sight restoration comprising:
- a. a color imager to capture color image, said color imaging being part of an external component, which is carried by the patient;
b. a video data processing unit for converting said image to electrical signals which contain image color signal data, said color imaging being part of said external component, which is carried by the patient;
c. a plurality of electrodes and one or more electronic circuits, implantable in the eye, said electrode and said electronic circuits being part of a component which is internal to the eye;
d. an external and internal receiver and transmitter for communication between the external component and the internal components;
e. said implantable electronic circuits configured to receive color signal information from the video data processing unit, activate the electrodes based on said color signal information and extract electrical power from the received signal;
f. said electrodes configured to stimulate those cells of the retina electrically which when stimulated give the perception of color.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The objective of the current invention is to restore color vision, in whole or in part, by electrically stimulating undamaged retinal cells, which remain in patients with, lost or degraded visual function. The invention is a retinal color prosthesis. Functionally, There are three main parts to this invention. One is external to the eye. The second part is internal to the eye. The third part is means for communication between those two parts. The external part has subsystems. These include an external imaging means, an eye-tracker, a head-motion tracker, a data processor, a patient'"'"'s controller, a physician'"'"'s local controller, a physician'"'"'s remote controller, and a telemetry means. The imaging means may include a CCD or CMOS video camera. It gathers an image of what the eyes would be seeing if they were functional.
Color information is acquired by the imaging means. The color data is processed in the video data processing unit. The color information is encoded by time sequences of pulses separated by varying amounts of time, and also with the pulse duration being varied in time. The basis for the color encoding is the individual color code reference. Direct color stimulation is another operational basis for providing color perception. The electrodes stimulate the target cells so as to create a color image for the patient, corresponding to the original image as seen by the video camera, or other imaging means.
The physician'"'"'s test unit can be used to set up or evaluate and test the implant during or soon after implantation at the patient'"'"'s bedside.
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Citations
268 Claims
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1. A retinal prosthetic for color sight restoration comprising:
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a. a color imager to capture color image, said color imaging being part of an external component, which is carried by the patient;
b. a video data processing unit for converting said image to electrical signals which contain image color signal data, said color imaging being part of said external component, which is carried by the patient;
c. a plurality of electrodes and one or more electronic circuits, implantable in the eye, said electrode and said electronic circuits being part of a component which is internal to the eye;
d. an external and internal receiver and transmitter for communication between the external component and the internal components;
e. said implantable electronic circuits configured to receive color signal information from the video data processing unit, activate the electrodes based on said color signal information and extract electrical power from the received signal;
f. said electrodes configured to stimulate those cells of the retina electrically which when stimulated give the perception of color. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 236)
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73. An eye-motion compensation system comprising
a. an eye-movement tracking apparatus; -
b. said eye-movement-tracking system measuring eye position, and time;
c. wherein said measurements are converted to information signals by the eye-movement tracking apparatus;
d. wherein said information signals are chosen from the group consisting of electromagnetic signals, acoustical signals, and light signals;
e. wherein said information signals are transmitted by a transmitter on the eye-movement tracking apparatus to a receiver on the video data processing unit;
f. said video data processor unit interprets eye movement measurements over time as angular positions, angular velocities, and angular accelerations;
g. said eye position, velocity, acceleration data is further processed by the video data processing unit;
wherein feedback information is provided to the video data processor;
wherein compensation, stabilization and adjustment for the motion of the eye is provided to an electronic image, from an imager carried by a patient;
wherein said image is presentable to the retina by way of an internal-to-the-eye implant.
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74. A head motion compensation system comprising a head motion tracking system wherein the motion and position of the head is sensed by a basic sensor selected from the group consisting of an integrating accelerometer, a micro-machined mechanical gyroscope, a laser gyroscope, a combination of an integrating accelerometer and a micro-machined mechanical gyroscope;
- a combination of an integrating accelerometer and a laser gyroscope;
the motion and position of the head is determined by said basic sensor;
wherein the data are communicated from the head tracking system to the video data processing unit by telemetry;
wherein the data are processed in the video data processor; and
wherein said video data processing unit can process the data of the motion of the eye as well as that of the head to further adjust the image electronically whereby the electronic data image is presented to the patient adjusted for eye motion and head motion.
- a combination of an integrating accelerometer and a laser gyroscope;
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75. A physician'"'"'s control unit comprising a unit located external to the eye of a patient;
- a first transceiver located in the physician'"'"'s control unit;
a second transceiver located in the internal-to-the-eye of the patient retinal color prosthesis implant;
said physician'"'"'s control unit transceiver transmits information which controls the image data parameters of the image supplied by external imager; and
wherein the physician'"'"'s control unit receives information which said implanted inside the patient'"'"'s eye transmits out of the eye. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77)
- a first transceiver located in the physician'"'"'s control unit;
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78. A physician'"'"'s hand-held or palm-size test unit comprising a hand-held computer used to set up and evaluate a retinal color prosthesis implant during or soon after implantation at the patient'"'"'s bedside;
- a transceiver in the hand-held test unit;
a transceiver in the retinal color prosthesis internal-to-the-eye implant;
said hand-held test unit having the capability of receiving signals which are transmitted out of the eye of the patient and having the ability to send information in to the retinal implant electronic chip;
said hand-held computer able to adjust the amplitudes on each electrode, one at a time, or in groups.
- a transceiver in the hand-held test unit;
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79. A patient'"'"'s control unit comprising a unit located external to the patient'"'"'s eye and normally carried by the patient, including but not limited to, on a belt, that has patient accessible controls;
- said controls controlling apparent brightness, apparent contrast, and apparent magnification as presented to the patient'"'"'s perception by the retinal color prosthesis;
said patient'"'"'s control unit having electronic circuits and components;
wherein upon remote command, will respond in a manner similar to that of said physician'"'"'s local unit; and
which has a transmitter and a receiver for remote communication.
- said controls controlling apparent brightness, apparent contrast, and apparent magnification as presented to the patient'"'"'s perception by the retinal color prosthesis;
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80. An electrode apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes hermetically sealed by a coating of hermetic sealant;
- wherein said hermetic coating sealant is made from a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide.
- View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99)
- 100. A retinal electrode array coating comprising a coating of neurotrophic factor on the surface of the electrodes.
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102. The retinal electrode array coating as in claim 1100 further comprising a coating of neurotrophic factor on the surface of the insulator near the electrodes.
- 104. An eye-implantable electronic circuit subsystem comprising one or more electronic circuits hermetically sealed wherein said hermetic sealant is made from a coating selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene and waxes.
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118. An eye-implantable subsystem comprising a configuration of two physically separate parts wherein insulated wires join said parts.
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125. An eye-implantable subsystem for inductively transferring electromagnetic energy into and out from an electronic component located internally in the eye, comprising:
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a. a coil external to a patient;
b. two insulated conducting coils, both located within the ocular orbit;
c. one free end of a first coil Joined to one free end of a second coil;
d. a second free end of said first coil joined to a second free end of said second coil;
e. a third coil attached integrally to an internal electronic component located within the eye;
f. said second coil located in proximity to said third coil. g. wherein said first coil is inductively coupled by a changing electromagnetic field in the coil external to the patient;
wherein said first coil is electrically connected to the second coil whereby the current in the second coil conforms to the current in the first coil;
wherein said second coil is inductively coupled to said third coil by a second changing electromagnetic field;
whereby a current produced in the third coil supplies energy to the electronic component located within the eye;
h. wherein a changing current supplied to the third coil by the electronic component within the eye produces a changing electromagnetic field in said third coil;
wherein said third coil is inductively coupled to the second coil;
wherein said second coil is electrically connected to said first coil;
whereby a changing electromagnetic field is produced by the first coil;
i. wherein said first coil produces a changing electromagnetic field which can inductively couple to said coil external to the patient.
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128. An apparatus which transfers acoustic energy and information into and out from an electronic component located internally in the eye, comprising:
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a. a first acoustical bi-directional transducer located within the eye;
b. wherein said bi-directional transducer acts as a transmitter and a receiver of acoustical energy;
c. a second bi-directional acoustical transducer located on an external unit worn on the head;
d. wherein said bi-directional transducer acts as a transmitter and a receiver of acoustical energy;
e. acoustic signal information and acoustic energy transmitted from one of said transducers is received by other of said transducers;
f. each of said acoustical transducers receives and amplifies a received signal and received power;
g. each of said acoustical transducers converts the received signal and the received power to an electrical signal and to electrical power.
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129. A method for making a retinal prosthetic for color sight restoration comprising the steps of:
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a. imaging with a color imager to capture color image, said color imaging being part of an external component, which is carried by the patient;
b. processing video data with a video data processing unit for converting said image to electrical signals which contain image color signal data, said color imaging being part of said external component, which is carried by the patient;
c. implanting internal to the eye a component which has a plurality of electrodes and one or more electronic circuits;
d. communicating between the external receiver and transmitter and the internal receiver and transmitter for communication between the external component and the internal component;
e. configuring said electronic circuits to receive color signal information from the video data processing unit, activate the electrodes based on said color signal information and extract electrical power from the received signal;
f. configuring said electrodes to stimulate bipolar cells of the retina electrically.
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206. A method for making an eye-motion compensation system comprising the steps of:
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a. tracking eye-movements;
b. measuring eye movements as to position and time;
c. converting said measurements to information signals d. transmitting said measurements to video data processor unit;
e. interpreting eye movement measurements as angular positions, angular velocities, and angular accelerations;
f. processing eye position, velocity, and acceleration data by the video data processing unit;
g. compensating, stabilizing and adjusting an imager generated image, said imager carried by a patient, wherein an imager generated image, presentable to the retina via an internal-to-the-eye implant, is electronically compensated, stabilized and adjusted for the motion of the eye. - View Dependent Claims (207)
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208. A method for enabling a physician to control and evaluate the parameters for a retinal color prosthesis comprising the steps of controlling information supplied by an external-to-the-patient image signal to an internal-to-the-eye implant;
- and receiving diagnostic information from the implant.
- View Dependent Claims (209, 210)
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211. A method for enabling a physician to set up the settable parameters of and evaluate the success of a retinal color prosthesis implant soon after the implantation comprising the steps of utilizing a handheld computer-based unit at the patient'"'"'s bedside;
- receiving signals transmitted out of the eye from an internal-to-the-eye retinal color prosthesis implant;
transmitting information in to the retinal color implant electronic chip component;
adjusting the amplitudes on each electrode, one at a time, or in groups.
- receiving signals transmitted out of the eye from an internal-to-the-eye retinal color prosthesis implant;
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212. A method for enabling a patient to control some parameters of a retinal color prosthesis comprising the steps of controlling apparent brightness, contrast and magnification of the patient'"'"'s perception;
- utilizing an imager to supply an electronic image signal to a video data processing unit;
utilizing a control unit external to the eye;
plugging said unit external to the eye into a mating plug on the video data processing unit of said retinal processing unit;
controlling patient settable parameters by patient operated controls;
resetting the video data processing unit parameters;
keeping the reset parameter settings until reset by the patient or a physician.
- utilizing an imager to supply an electronic image signal to a video data processing unit;
- 213. A method for making an implantable, retinal-cell stimulating electrode array comprising the step of selecting a plurality of electrodes from the group consisting of pyrolytic carbon, titanium nitride, platinum, iridium, and iridium oxide.
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233. A method for a neurotrophic coating comprising the step of coating an electrode array with a neurotrophic factor on the surface of the electrodes.
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237. A method for making an eye-implantable electronic circuit system comprising the steps of hermetically sealing one or more electronic circuits with a coating selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene and waxes.
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244. A method for constructing a coil system for driving a retinal color prosthetic internal-to-the eye electronic implant component comprising the step of attaching an insulated conducting coil to an internal-to-the-eye electronic implant component by both ends of said coil.
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255. A method for an acoustical energy and information transfer which transfers acoustic energy and information from and to a retinal color prosthesis internal-to-the-eye electronic implant component located internally in the eye, comprising the steps of:
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a. locating an acoustical transducer in the eye;
b. locating an acoustical transducer on an external unit worn on the head;
c. transmitting acoustic signal information and acoustic energy from the first and from the second of said transducers;
d. receiving acoustical signal information and acoustical energy by the second and by the first transducers;
e. amplifying said received acoustical signal information and acoustical power by said acoustical transducers.
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256. An apparatus which transfers light energy and information into an electronic component located internally in the eye, comprising:
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a. a photogenerator located externally to the eye;
wherein a modulated electrical signal is turned into a modulated light signal;
b. a photodetector located on the internally located electronic component;
c. light energy and information transmitted by the photogenerator;
d. light information and energy received by the photodetector;
wherein the modulated light signal is turned into a modulated electrical signal;
e. an electronic component located internally to the eye;
wherein energy and information are extracted from the electrical signal.
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257. An apparatus which transfers light energy and information out from an electronic component located internally in the eye, comprising:
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a. a photogenerator located internally to the eye on an electronic component;
wherein a modulated electrical signal is turned into a modulated light signal;
d. a photodetector located externally located externally to the eye;
e. light energy and information transmitted by the photogenerator;
f. light information and energy received by the photodetector;
wherein the plurality of modulated light signals is turned into a plurality of modulated electrical signals;
g. at least one electronic circuit located externally to the eye;
wherein energy and information are extracted from the electrical signal;
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258. An apparatus which transfers light energy and information into and out from an electronic component located internally in the eye, comprising:
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a. a photogenerator located externally to the eye;
wherein a modulated electrical signal is turned into a modulated light signal;
b. a photodetector located on the internally located electronic component;
c. a photogenerator located internally to the eye on an electronic component;
wherein a modulated electrical signal is turned into a modulated light signal;
d. a photodetector located externally located externally to the eye;
e. light energy and information transmitted by a plurality of photogenerators;
f. light information and energy received by a plurality of photodetectors;
wherein the plurality of modulated light signals is turned into a plurality of modulated electrical signals;
h. at least one electronic circuit located externally to the eye;
wherein energy and information are extracted from the electrical signal;
i. an electrical component located internally to the eye;
wherein energy and information are extracted from the electrical signal.j. said external photogenerator disposed as to send light information and energy to the internal photodetector;
k. said internal light generator disposed so as to send light information and energy to the external photodetector.
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259. A method for light energy and information transfer, which transfers light energy into an electronic component, located internally in the eye, comprising the steps of:
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a. locating a photogenerator externally to the eye;
wherein a modulated electrical signal is turned into a modulated light signal;
b. locating a photodetector on the internally located electronic component;
c. transmitting light energy and information from the photogenerator;
d. receiving light information and energy by the photodetector;
wherein the modulated light signal is turned into a modulated electrical signal;
e. locating an electrical component internally to the eye;
extracting energy and information from the electrical signal.
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260. A method for light energy and information transfer, which transfers light energy out of an electronic component, located internally in the eye, comprising the steps of:
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a. locating a photogenerator internally to the eye on an electronic component;
turning a modulated electrical signal into a modulated light signal;
b. locating a photodetector externally to the eye;
c. transmitting light energy and information from the photogenerator;
d. receiving light information and energy from the photodetector;
turning the modulated light signal into turned a modulated electrical signal;
e. locating at least one electronic circuit externally to the eye;
extracting energy and information from the electrical signal;
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261. A method for light energy and information transfer, which transfers light energy into and out of an electronic component, located internally in the eye, comprising the steps of:
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a. locating a photogenerator externally to the eye;
turning a modulated electrical signal into a modulated light signal;
b. locating a photodetector on the internally located electronic component;
c. locating a photogenerator internally to the eye on an electronic component;
turning a modulated electrical signal into a modulated light signal;
d. locating a photodetector externally to the eye;
e. transmitting light energy and information from a plurality of light generators;
f. receiving light information and energy by a plurality of photodetectors;
turning the plurality of modulated light signals into a plurality of modulated electrical signals;
g. locating at least one electronic circuit externally to the eye;
extracting energy and information from the electrical signal;
h. locating an electrical component internally to the eye;
extracting energy and information from the electrical signal.i. disposing said external photogenerator so as to send light information and energy to the internal photodetector;
j. disposing said internal light generator so as to send light information and energy to the external photodetector.
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262. An iridium electrode for a retinal color prosthesis comprising an iridium electrode which is attached onto a foil selected from the group consisting of platinum foil and iridium foil that acts to hermetically seal the area it covers;
- said foil glued to an aluminum pad with electrically conductive glue;
said aluminum pad deposited on a silicon substrate which may also support electronic circuitry;
a titanium ring, sputtered, plated, ion implanted, ion beam assisted deposited (27) or otherwise attached to the platinum or iridium foil;
with an insulating layer adhered to the titanium ring, where insulation material is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide.
- said foil glued to an aluminum pad with electrically conductive glue;
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263. A titanium nitride electrode for a retinal color prosthesis comprising a titanium nitride electrode which is sputtered onto a foil selected from the group consisting of platinum foil and iridium foil that acts to hermetically seal the area it covers;
- said foil glued to an aluminum pad with electrically conductive glue;
said aluminum pad deposited on a silicon substrate which may also support electronic circuitry;
a titanium ring, sputtered, plated, ion implanted, ion-beam assisted deposited (IBAD) or otherwise attached to the platinum or iridium foil;
with an insulating layer adhered to the titanium ring, where insulation material is selected from the group silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide.
- said foil glued to an aluminum pad with electrically conductive glue;
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264. A method for making an iridium electrode assembly for a retinal color prosthesis comprising the step of constructing an iridium electrode assembly, further comprising the steps of depositing an aluminum pad on a silicon substrate, which may also support electronic circuitry;
- electroplating iridium onto a foil selected from the group consisting of platinum or iridium foil;
sealing the area said foil covers hermetically by said foil, gluing said foil to said aluminum pad with electrically conductive glue;
attaching, sputtering, plating, ion implanting, ion-beam assisted depositing (IBAD) a titanium ring, on to the platinum or iridium foil;
adhering an insulating layer to the titanium ring, where insulation material is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide.
- electroplating iridium onto a foil selected from the group consisting of platinum or iridium foil;
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265. A method for making a titanium nitride electrode assembly for a retinal color prosthesis comprising the step of constructing a titanium electrode assembly, further comprising the steps of depositing an aluminum pad on a silicon substrate, which may also support electronic circuitry;
- electroplating titanium onto a foil selected from the group consisting of platinum foil or iridium foil;
sealing the area said foil covers hermetically by said foil;
gluing said foil to said aluminum pad with electrically conductive glue;
attaching, sputtering, plating, ion implanting or ion-beam-assisted depositing (IBAD) a titanium ring on to the platinum or iridium foil;
adhering an insulating layer to the titanium ring, where insulation material is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, diamond-like coating, silicon nitride and silicon oxide in combination, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide.
- electroplating titanium onto a foil selected from the group consisting of platinum foil or iridium foil;
Specification