Retinal prosthesis and method of manufacturing a retinal prosthesis

• US 7,873,419 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Greenberg, Robert J., Talbot, Neil Hamilton, Chang, Da-Yu, Wilkin, Kevin, Neysmith, Jordan, Ok, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kimball; Jeremiah T
• Application Number:
  US11/927,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20080065208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 607/54
• 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 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3758 Packaging of the components within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16227 the bump connector connecting to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/32225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73253 Bump and layer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/15311 being a ball array, e.g. BGA
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/16251 Connecting to an item not being a semiconductor or solid-state body, e.g. cap-to-substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19104 on the semiconductor or solid-state device, i.e. passive-on-chip
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19107 off-chip wires

Abstract

An improved package and configuration for an implantable retinal prosthesis includes an electrode array suitable to be mounted in close proximity to a retina, an electronics package, and an inductive receiving coil mounted next to each other on a strap surrounding the sclera so that the height above the sclera of the prosthesis is minimized.

Claims

1. A retinal prosthesis comprising

a video capture device;

a source of power;

a primary inductive data transmission coil suitable to be placed outside of the body and electrically coupled

to said video capture device and said source of power and transmitting video information from said video capture device;

an electrode array suitable to be mounted in close proximity to a retina;

a strap suitable to surround the eye;

a hermetic at least partially ceramic electronics package encasing active and passive electronics and mounted on said strap;

an electrical cable coupling said electrode array to said hermetic at least partially ceramic electronics package;

wherein said electrical cable is suitable to pierce the pars plana region of the sclera;

a secondary inductive data transmission coil mounted on said strap next to, and coplanar with, said hermetic at least partially ceramic electronics package, electrically coupled to said hermetic at least partially ceramic electronics package, suitable to be mounted to the side of a sclera and in close proximity to said primary inductive coil and receiving the video information from said primary inductive coil;

wherein height above the sclera of said strap hermetic at least partially ceramic electronics package and coil is minimized.

2. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, further comprising suture tabs connected to said secondary inductive coil suitable for attaching said secondary inductive coil to the sclera.

3. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, further comprising suture tabs connected to said hermetic at least partially ceramic electronics package suitable for attaching said hermetic at least partially ceramic electronics package to the sclera.

4. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, further comprising a fan tail connected to said secondary inductive coil and to said strap to facilitate to passing said strap and said secondary inductive coil through muscle tissue.

5. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, further comprising a hook on said prosthesis suitable for engaging a surgical tool.

6. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said cable and electrode array comprise metal traces sandwiched between thin polymer films.

7. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 6, wherein said cable is folded to present the same side of said cable to both said electronics package and the retina.

8. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said secondary coil is substantially oval shaped.

9. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said electrode array is suitable to be placed in an epiretinal location.

10. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said secondary inductive coil is a wound wire coil.

11. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said primary coil is integrated in the temple of a pair of glasses.

12. A retinal prosthesis comprising:

an electrode array suitable to be mounted in close proximity to a retina;

a strap suitable for surrounding an eye;

a hermetic at least partially ceramic electronics package encasing active and passive electronics and mounted on said strap;

an electrical cable, suitable to pierce the pars plana region of the sclera, coupling said electrode array to said hermetic at least partially ceramic electronics package;

a secondary inductive data transmission coil mounted on said strap next to and coplanar with said electronics package, electrically coupled to said electronics package, and receiving video information;

wherein height above the sclera of said strap electronics package and coil is minimized.

13. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 12, further comprising a getter within said hermetic at least partially ceramic electronics package.

14. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 12, wherein said hermetic at least partially ceramic electronics package is formed of a ceramic base, including conductive vias and a metal cover.

15. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 14, further comprising wire bonds electrically coupling a flip-chip package to said conductive vias.

16. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 12, wherein said hermetic at least partially ceramic electronics package includes a flip-chip package.

17. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 16, wherein said hermetic at least partially ceramic electronics package includes a stack substrate including discrete components bonded to said flip-chip package.

18. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 16, further comprising a polymer under fill under said flip-chip package.