Intraocular electrode

• US 6,533,798 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Second Sight Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Greenberg, Robert J., Schulman, Joseph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/924,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20020002381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 600/373, 600/587, 600/546, 600/554, 600/585, 600/547, 600/372, 604/361, 604/362, 606/184, 606/185, 606/186
• US Class Current: 606/185
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• 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: A61N 1/0543 Retinal electrodes

Abstract

This invention is a method and apparatus for implanting retinal tacks and retinal electrode element with spiked electrodes. In one aspect of the invention, a tack suitable for insertion into the retina is driven into the retina by the repeated minute blows from the rapid contractions and expansions of the piezoelectric crystal. In a different aspect of the invention, a retinal electrode element with spiked electrodes suitable for insertion into the retina is driven into the retina by the repeated minute blows from the rapid contractions and expansions of the piezoelectric crystal. In another aspect of the invention, a single, short impulse is used to drive the tack home. In a different aspect of the invention, a single, short impulse is used to drive the retinal electrode element with spiked electrodes home. With this mode of tack and electrode element implanting, a remotely placed driver couples its motion to the tack using a thin, elongated tube filled with a suitable hydraulic fluid.

Claims

1. An electrode element comprising:

a base;

a plurality of electrodes on said base; and

a barbed, elongated spike electrode on said base so as to keep said electrode element from pulling out of living tissue in which it is implanted.

2. The electrode element of claim 1 wherein said barbed, elongated spike electrode is a non-working electrode.

3. The electrode element of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of barbed, elongated spike electrodes, on said base, that extend beyond the lengths of said plurality of electrodes.

4. The electrode element of claim 3 wherein said plurality of barbed elongated spike electrodes are disposed around the periphery of said electrode element.

5. The electrode element of claim 1 wherein said plurality of electrodes form a curved contact area.

6. The electrode element of claim 1 adapted for implantation in an eye.

7. A retinal electrode element for implantation in an eyeball comprising:

a base;

a plurality of electrodes on said base; and

a plurality of barbed elongated spike electrodes, on said base, so as to keep said retinal electrode element from pulling out the eyeball in which it is implanted.

8. The retinal electrode element of claim 7 wherein said plurality of barbed, elongated spike electrodes are non-working electrodes.

9. The retinal electrode element of claim 7 wherein said plurality of barbed, elongated spike electrodes extend beyond the lengths of said plurality of electrodes.

10. The retinal electrode element of claim 7 wherein said plurality of barbed elongated spike electrodes are disposed around the periphery of said electrode element.

11. The retinal electrode element of claim 7 wherein said plurality of electrodes form a curved contact area.

12. The retinal electrode element of claim 7 wherein said plurality of electrodes are spike electrodes.