Artificial retina device

• US 5,024,223 A
• Filed: 07/06/1990
• Issued: 06/18/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IMI Intelligent Medical Implants AG (Pixium Vision SA)
• Original Assignee: Alan Y. Chow
• Inventors: Chow, Alan Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frinks, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US07/549,094
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419 R, 128/783-785, 623/4, 623/6, 106/1, 106/107
• US Class Current: 607/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00727 Apparatus for retinal reattachment
• 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 1/36 for stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14643 Photodiode arrays; MOS imagers

Abstract

A silicon chip device composed of a large array of densely packed microphotodiodes is implanted between the inner and outer retina layers, in patients with vision-deficient eyes suffering from retinal dysfunction, to allow for useful formed vision. The photoactive surface of each photodiode, with its silicon deposited or etched electrode, point towards the incident light. The device produces an amplitude-modulated current to stimulate the inner retinal layer. The device is intrinsically inert due to its doped silicon substrate nature.

Claims

1. An artificial retina device, comprising:

a plurality of discrete photodiodes, disposed on one surface of a substrate said photodiodes each including an active electrode layer overlaying a photosensitive layer, each photodiode being connected to an electrical ground, wherein said active electrode layer and ground are made from materials selected from aluminum, platinum, chromium, gold, conductive silicon, or combinations thereof, said photodiodes having electrical outputs that correspond to the amplitude of light incident on said device, whereby said device can stimulate individual or small groups of cells in the inner retinal layer of the eye, corresponding to the light incident on said device.

3. The artificial retina device of claim 1, wherein said device is from 2 mm to 20 mm in its maximum width, and from 0.005 mm to 2 mm between said two surfaces.

4. The artificial retina device of claim 1 that further includes a grasping member.

5. The artificial retina device of claim 1 further including a plurality of openings between said two surfaces.

6. The artificial retina device of claim 1 wherein one or both surfaces are curved.

7. The retinal implant device of claim 1, wherein said first surface includes a plurality of protuberances that extend therefrom.

2. An artificial retina device, comprising:

a plurality of discrete photodiodes disposed on one surface of a substrate, said photodiodes each including an active electrode layer overlaying a photosensitive layer, each photodiode being connected to an electrical ground, said photodiodes having electrical outputs that correspond to the amplitude of the light incident on said device, whereby said device can be implanted in the eye intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of outer layer of the retina, so that each of said photodiodes will stimulate directly individual or small groups of cells in the inner retinal layer corresponding to the light incident on said device, wherein the edges of said implant are rounded to facilitate insertion into the intraretinal space without tearing the retina.

8. An artificial retina device, comprising:

a plurality of discrete photodiodes disposed on one surface of a substrate, said photodiodes each including an active electrode layer overlaying a photosensitive layer, each photodiode being connected to an electrical ground, said photodiodes having electrical outputs that correspond to the amplitude of the light incident on said device, whereby said device can be implanted in the eye intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of outer layer of the retina, so that each of said photodiodes will stimulate directly individual or small groups of cells in the inner retinal layer corresponding to the light incident on said device, wherein said device includes a flexible member extending therefrom.

9. The retinal implant device of claim 8, wherein said flexible member comprises a suture.

10. An artificial retina device, comprising:

a plurality of discrete photodiodes disposed on one surface of a substrate, said photodiodes each including an active electrode layer overlaying a photosensitive layer, each photodiode being connected to an electrical ground, said photodiodes having electrical outputs that correspond to the amplitude of the light incident on said device, said device including plural articulated portions so as to conform to a curved retinal layer, whereby said device can be implanted in the eye intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of outer layer of the retina, so that each of said photodiodes will stimulate directly individual or small groups of cells in the inner retinal layer corresponding to the light incident on said device.

11. The retinal implant device of claim 10 wherein said articulated portions include at least one flexible joint.

12. An artificial retina device, comprising:

a plurality of discrete PiN or NiP photodiodes disposed on one surface of a substrate, said photodiodes each including an active electrode layer overlaying a photosensitive layer, each photodiode being connected to an electrical ground, said photodiodes having electrical outputs that correspond to the amplitude of the light incident on said device, the resistances of said photodiodes ranging from 1 ohm-cm to 50,000 ohm-cm, whereby said device can be implanted in the eye intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of outer layer of the retina, so that each of said photodiodes will stimulate directly individual or small groups of cells in the inner retinal layer corresponding to the light incident on said device.

13. A surgical procedure for implanting into the eye an artificial retina device including a plurality of discrete photodiodes, said procedure comprising:

making a horizontal incision temporal to the macula, parallel to and through the nerve fiber layer;

opening the potential space within the retina;

inserting said device into said space intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of the outer layer of the retina with said photodiodes facing light incident into the eye; and

closing said incision and space.

14. The surgical procedure of claim 13 wherein said device is inserted into said space by inserting a tubular insertion guide through said incision and into said space, and passing said device through said insertion guide into said space.

15. The surgical procedure of claim 14 wherein said tubular insertion guide is a flattened tube, and said device is passed through said tube by pushing it with a pusher member.

16. The surgical procedure of claim 14 wherein said guide includes a lip on one end that is introduced into said space before said device is passed through it, said lip adapted to deposit said device in the desired location.

17. The surgical procedure of claim 15 wherein said guide and pusher member are curved.

18. The surgical procedure of claim 13 wherein said device is positioned on the macula area of the posterior pole of the eye.

19. A device for implanting an artificial retina device into the eye, comprising:

an elongated flattened tubular member curved along its length with a lip on one end;

a pusher member adapted to slide within said elongated tubular member whereby an artificial retina device can be implanted into the eye through an incision by introducing said tubular member through said incision, and pushing the retina device through said tubular member with said pusher member until said retina device is adjacent said lip.

20. The device of claim 20 wherein said pusher member has serrations at one end.