Retinal prosthesis and method of manufacturing a retinal prosthesis

• US 7,881,799 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2006
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cortigent Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. (Vivani Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilkins, Kevin, Greenberg, Robert J., Talbot, Neil Hamilton, Chang, Da-Yu, Neysmith, Jordan, Ok, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kimball; Jeremiah T
• Application Number:
  US11/385,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 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 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:

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

a strap suitable for surrounding the sclera;

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

an electrical cable coupling said electrode array to said electronics package;

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

a secondary inductive data transmission coil mounted to said strap, coplanar with said electronics package, electrically coupled to said electronics package, band powering electronics in said electronics package;

said secondary coil suitable to be mounted on the lateral side of the sclera; and

wherein height above the sclera of said electronics package and said secondary inductive 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 a suture tab connected to said electronics package suitable for attaching said 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.

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, further comprising a fan tail on said electrode array.

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

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

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

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