Insulated implantable electrical circuit
First Claim
1. A method of forming an insulated flexible electrical circuit suitable for implantation, comprising the steps of:
- choosing a rigid substrate;
cleaning said rigid substrate;
depositing a first polyparaxylylene layer on said rigid substrate;
selecting a biocompatible metal or metal combination to comprise an electrical conductor;
depositing said selected metal or metal combination forming an electrical conductor on said first polyparaxylylene layer;
patterning said electrical conductor to form a conductive path thereon;
depositing a second polyparaxylylene layer;
thermally treating said first polyparaxylylene layer and said second polyparaxylylene layer;
defining at least one select portion of said second polyparaxylylene layer;
removing said at least one select portion of said second polyparaxylylene layer defining at least one aperture therein, thereby forming at least one electrode that is suitable for contacting living tissue; and
removing said rigid substrate wherein said implantable insulated flexible electrical circuit comprising polyparaxylylene and metal structure results.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to an implant able insulated electrical circuit that utilizes polyparaxylylene, preferably as Parylene, a known polymer that has excellent living tissue implant characteristics, to provide for chronic implantation of conductive electrical devices, such as stimulators and sensors. The device is thin, flexible, electrically insulated, and stable after long exposure to living tissue. Layers of Parylene may be combined with layers of a polymer, such as polyimide, to yield greater design flexibility in the circuit. Multiple electrical conduction layers may be stacked in the circuit to increase packing density.
18 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of forming an insulated flexible electrical circuit suitable for implantation, comprising the steps of:
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choosing a rigid substrate; cleaning said rigid substrate; depositing a first polyparaxylylene layer on said rigid substrate; selecting a biocompatible metal or metal combination to comprise an electrical conductor; depositing said selected metal or metal combination forming an electrical conductor on said first polyparaxylylene layer; patterning said electrical conductor to form a conductive path thereon; depositing a second polyparaxylylene layer; thermally treating said first polyparaxylylene layer and said second polyparaxylylene layer; defining at least one select portion of said second polyparaxylylene layer; removing said at least one select portion of said second polyparaxylylene layer defining at least one aperture therein, thereby forming at least one electrode that is suitable for contacting living tissue; and removing said rigid substrate wherein said implantable insulated flexible electrical circuit comprising polyparaxylylene and metal structure results. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification