FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT ELECTRODE ARRAY

• US 20080221653A1
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cortigent Incorporated, Doheny Eye Institute
• Original Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute
• Inventors: Agrawal, Rajat, Greenberg, Robert J., Mech, Brian V., Zhou, Dao Min, Talbot, Neil Hamilton, Little, James Singleton, Neysmith, Jordan Matthew, Humayun, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,188,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0543 Retinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye

Abstract

A flexible circuit electrode array comprising:

• a polymer base layer;
• metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue;
• a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and
• a central opening in the area of the metal traces.
  • A flexible circuit electrode array comprising:
• a polymer base layer;
• metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue;
• a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and
• a soft polymer filling an attachment point.
  • A flexible circuit electrode array comprising:
• a polymer base layer;
• metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue;
• a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and
• a hump to avoid a touching of the flexible electrode array and the optic nerve.

Claims

1. A flexible circuit electrode array comprising:

a polymer base layer;

metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue;

a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and

a central opening through all layers in the area of the metal traces.

2. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1, wherein said area is a folding area.

3. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1, wherein said opening is a slit.

4. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1, wherein the opening is a cut.

5. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1, wherein said opening is 1 mm-10 mm long.

6. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1, wherein said opening is 3 mm-6 mm long.

7. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1, wherein said opening is 0.01 mm-5 mm broad.

8. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1, wherein said opening is 1 mm-2 mm broad.

9. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1, further containing a skirt of silicone or other pliable material containing at least one attachment point and a stress relieves surrounding the attachment point.

10. A flexible circuit electrode array comprising:

a polymer base layer;

metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue;

a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and

a sclerotomy grommet.

11. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 10, wherein said grommet is in place.

12. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 10, wherein said grommet includes an upper part and a lower part, joined by a hinge.

13. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 10, wherein said grommet is made from a single piece.

14. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 10, wherein said grommet contains a biocompatible polymer such as silicone.

15. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 10, wherein said grommet is sufficiently narrowed at a hinge to make it flexible.

16. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 10, wherein said grommet contains a snap type closure which is opposite to a hinge.

17. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 10, wherein said grommet includes a groove to facilitate tying a suture around the grommet.

18. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 10, wherein said grommet is placed on the flexible circuit electrode or can be placed separately.

19. A flexible circuit electrode array comprising:

a polymer base layer;

metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue;

a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and

a soft polymer filling at attachment point.

20. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 19, wherein said soft polymer is a membrane.

21. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 19, wherein said soft polymer filling at attachment point contains a reinforcing ring.

22. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 19, wherein said reinforcing ring is located in the drum around tack location.

23. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 19, wherein said reinforcing ring is a tube around the hole locating tack.

24. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 19, wherein said reinforcing ring has a different color in order to identify the location of the tack.

25. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 19, wherein said soft polymer contains polymer, copolymer or block copolymer or polymer layer structure of at least one of the following polymers polyimide, silicone, polyurethane, parylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, peek, polyamide, polyester, PEEK, other soft polymers or mixtures thereof.

26. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 19, wherein said soft polymer is provided into the flexible circuit electrode array by filling a hole by molding, or filling with a liquid polymer or is adhered to the flexible circuit electrode array above or below the surface area of the flexible circuit electrode array.

27. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 19, wherein said soft polymer has a hole in its center.

28. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 19, wherein said soft polymer is provided into the flexible circuit electrode array by filling a hole by molding, or filling with a liquid polymer.

29. A flexible circuit electrode array comprising:

a polymer base layer;

metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue;

a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and

a hump to avoid a touching of the flexible electrode array and the optic nerve.

30. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 29, wherein said flexible electrode array is fixed with at least one tack.

31. A flexible circuit electrode array comprising:

a polymer base layer;

metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue;

a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and

support structure to ensure greater than, or equal to, 10 mmHg contact pressure of the electrode region of said flexible circuit electrode array on the retina.

32. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 31, wherein said flexible electrode array is a stiff array.

33. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 31, wherein said flexible electrode array contains silicone, polyimide or parylene and a rigid material such as metal wires embedded in or on the array or higher duromer silicone to make the array to high pressure construct structure.

34. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 31, wherein said flexible electrode array contains a cable which is made as rigid as the electrode array head by the addition of metal wires or foil.

35. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 31, wherein said flexible electrode array contains a silicone gasket, surrounding the area of the electrodes in an array.

36. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 31, wherein said flexible electrode array applies pressure to the retina outside the active area of the array.

37. A flexible circuit electrode array comprising:

a polymer base layer;

metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue;

a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and

a slit at the point where the cable portion pierces the sclera and rounded portions at each end of the slit.

38. A flexible circuit electrode array comprising:

a polymer base layer;

metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue;

a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and

a clamp sleeve, which may be clamped onto the cable portion at any location.

39. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 38, wherein said clamp sleeve includes a spring loaded hinge and handle.

40. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 38, wherein said clamp sleeve includes a coating outside of the clamp sleeve.

41. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 38, wherein said clamp sleeve includes apertures in the clamp sleeve to allow for a suture or clip to hold the clamp sleeve closed.

42. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 38, wherein said sleeve contains growth factors or connective tissue growth factors to the sleeve.

43. A flexible circuit electrode array comprising:

a polymer base layer;

metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue;

a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and

an undulating sleeve.

44. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 43, wherein said sleeve contains undulations or ribs.

45. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 43, wherein said sleeve contains growth factors or connective tissue growth factors to the sleeve.

46. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 45, wherein connective tissue growth factors contain kilodalton, cysteine-rich, secreted peptide with mitotic, chemotactic functions or mixtures thereof.

47. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 43, wherein said sleeve contains human fibrin tissue adhesive, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate with parabens, fibrin adhesive (Quixil), Tisseel VH fibrin, 2-Octyl Cyanoacrylate or mixtures thereof.