Package for an implantable medical device

• US 7,257,446 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. (Vivani Medical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. (Vivani Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Greenberg, Robert J., Schulman, Joseph H., Mech, Brian V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oropeza; Frances P.
• Application Number:
  US09/976,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20020038134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,132 Days
• Field of Search: 600/377, 600/393, 607/53, 607/54, 607/116, 623/6.11, 623/6.63, 623/6.22
• US Class Current: 607/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0543 Retinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49165 by forming conductive walled aperture in base

Abstract

The present invention is an implantable electronic device formed within a biocompatible hermetic package. Preferably the implantable electronic device is used for a visual prosthesis for the restoration of sight in patients with lost or degraded visual function. The package may include a hard hermetic box, a thin film hermetic coating, or both.

Claims

1. A visual prosthesis comprising:

an internal electronics unit, suitable for implantation within a living body, at least a portion of said internal electronics unit is formed within a biocompatible hermetic box including a metal portion braised to a ceramic portion; and

a plurality of electrodes driven by said internal electronics unit suitable for stimulating visual neurons to create a perception of a visual image.

2. The visual prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein said internal electronics unit is suitable to be implanted in the vicinity of the eye.

3. A visual prosthesis comprising:

an internal electronics unit, suitable for implantation within a living body, at least a portion of said internal electronics unit is formed within a biocompatible hermetic box including a metal portion and a ceramic portion;

a flip chip electrically connected to feed-throughs in said ceramic portion; and

a plurality of electrodes driven by said internal electronics unit suitable for stimulating visual neurons to create a perception of a visual image.

4. The visual prosthesis according to claim 3 wherein said internal electronics unit is suitable to be implanted in the vicinity of the eye.

5. A visual prosthesis comprising:

an internal electronics unit, suitable for implantation within a living body, at least a portion of said internal electronics unit is formed within a biocompatible hermetic box including a metal portion and a ceramic portion;

a plurality of electrodes driven by said internal electronics unit suitable for stimulating visual neurons to create a perception of a visual image;

wherein said metal portion includes a metal sidewall joined with a metal top by a weld joint.

6. The visual prosthesis according to claim 5 wherein said internal electronics unit is suitable to be implanted in the vicinity of the eye.