SUBCHOROIDAL RETINAL PROSTHESIS

• US 20090177245A1
• Filed: 01/05/2009
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute
• Original Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute
• Inventors: Weiland, James D., Humayun, Mark S., Ameri, Hossein
• Granted Patent: US 8,583,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0543 Retinal electrodes

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to utilization of one or more arrays that are placed under the choroid. In this approach, an array is placed under the choroid. To achieve this, a scleral incision can be made without cutting the underlying choroid or retina. The array can then be inserted into the space between the sclera and choroid and is pushed to the desired place. It is possible to make several of such scleral incisions in each quadrant of the eye to insert arrays of similar or different shapes into the subchoroidal space. Following insertion of the electrode array the scleral wound may be sutured around the cable to make the array and the eye more stable.

Claims

1. A subchoroidal retinal prosthesis system comprising:

one or more subchoroidal electrode arrays configured and arranged for placement adjacent to the choroid of an eye; and

one or more connecting cables configured and arranged to connect the one or more subchoroidal electrode arrays to a control unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more connecting cables comprise a return electrode connected to the one or more subchoroidal arrays.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more subchoroidal arrays comprise four arrays.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a subchoroidal part and an episcleral part.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a subchoroidal part and a epiretinal part.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the episcleral part further comprises one or more coils connecting respective cables connected to each of the one or more arrays.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the episcleral part comprises one or more electronic chips connect to the one or more coils.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the subchoroidal array is a stimulating array.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the subchoroidal array is a return electrode array.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the subchoroidal array is a recording electrode array.

11. A method of placing a subchoroidal array under a choroid, the method comprising:

making a scleral incision without cutting the underlying choroid or retina;

inserting a subchoroidal array into the space between the sclera and the choroid; and

positioning the subchoroidal array at a desired location.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising positioning an additional subchoroidal array under a choroid at a desired location.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising connecting the subchoroidal array to an epiretinal array.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising connecting the subchoroidal array to a subretinal array.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising placing a return electrode in the subchoroidal, episcleral, or subretinal space, or the vitreous cavity connected to the array, cable or the external components of the prosthesis.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising placing a recording electrode in the subchoroidal, episcleral, or subretinal space, or the vitreous cavity connected to the array, cable or the external components of the prosthesis.