Electrode array for visual stimulation

• US 7,835,798 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2007
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Greenberg, Robert J., Schulman, Joseph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gedeon; Brian T
• Application Number:
  US11/926,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20080275528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,115 Days
• Field of Search: 607/54, 607/141, 607/53, 623/6.63
• US Class Current: 607/53
• 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

An electrode array adapted for stimulating the retina to create the perception of vision in blind patients. The electrode array may be embodied as a combination of a subretinal electrode array and an epiretinal electrode array, with an electronics unit external to the eye. The subretinal and epiretinal arrays are in electrical communication with each other and are suitable to pass an electrical signal through retinal tissue.

Claims

1. A visual prosthesis comprising:

an external unit suitable to be placed outside a living body providing inductive power;

an implantable unit suitable to be placed within the living body outside the eye and receiving said inductive power; and

an electrode array powered by said implantable unit and suitable to implanted subretinally.

2. An eye-implantable retinal electrode array comprising:

an epiretinal electrode; and

a subretinal electrode in electrical communication with said epiretinal electrode suitable to pass an electrical signal through retinal tissue.

3. The eye-implantable retinal electrode array according to claim 2, wherein said epiretinal electrode and said subretinal electrode are held in a prescribed relationship to each other by magnets.

4. The eye-implantable retinal electrode array according to claim 2, wherein said epiretinal electrode and said subretinal electrode are held in a prescribed relationship to each other by pins.

5. The eye-implantable retinal electrode array according to claim 2, wherein said epiretinal electrode and said subretinal electrode are held in a prescribed relationship to each other by snap-together mating parts.

6. An implantable electrode array comprising:

an electrode array body suitable to be mounted subretinally;

receiving inductive power from outside the body; and

a plurality of electrodes, on said electrode array body, having different lengths.

7. The implantable electrode array according to claim 6, wherein said electrode array body is near flat.

8. The implantable electrode array according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of electrodes are spike shaped.