Implantable Retinal Electrode Array Configuration for Minimal Retinal Damage and Method of Reducing Retinal Stress

• US 20110166623A1
• Filed: 03/10/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. (Vivani Medical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. (Vivani Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mech, Brian V., Zhou, DaoMin, Talbot, Neil H., Little, James S., Ihrig, Karl-Heinz, Greenberg, Robert J., Mann, Alfred E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,175,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0543 Retinal electrodes

Abstract

This invention is a retinal electrode array assembly and methods of using the same that facilitate surgical implant procedures by providing the operating surgeon with visual references and grasping means and with innovations that reduce actual and potential damage to the retina and the surrounding tissue.

Claims

1. A retinal prosthesis comprising:

an electronics package suitable to implanted external to the eye and distant from the sclera;

an array body including a plurality of electrodes suitable for contact with a retina; and

a feeder cable including a plurality of conductors coupling the electronics package to the array body.

2. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the conductors are coiled within the feeder cable.

3. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 2, wherein a section of the feeder cable suitable to be placed within an eye has straight conductors.

4. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the feeder cable is silicone filled.

5. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 4, wherein the silicone has hardness of about 50 or less on the Shore A scale as measured with a durometer.

6. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the conductors are individually sheathed.

7. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the conductors are wires.

8. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the conductors are electrically conductive film.

9. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, further comprising one or more fixation tabs on the feeder cable.

10. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 9, wherein the fixation tabs are silicone.

11. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the conductors are platinum.

12. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the feeder cable is covered with silicone.

13. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 12, wherein the silicone has hardness of about 50 or less on the Shore A scale as measured with a durometer.

14. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, further comprising a grasping handle attached to the feeder cable for holding with a surgical instrument during implantation.

15. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the electronics package is hermetic.