Implantable device using ultra-nanocrystalline diamond

• US 8,630,720 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cortigent Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. (Vivani Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mech, Brian V., Greenberg, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCKELMAN, MARK
• Application Number:
  US13/474,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20120232371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 607/1, 607/2, 607/53, 604/891.1, 427/2.1, 427/2.11, 427/2.24, 427/2.12, 4272498-24914, 600/300, 600/347, 600/365, 600/373
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0543 Retinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/274 using microwave discharges
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/277 using other elements in the gas phase besides carbon and hydrogen; using other elements besides carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in case of use of combustion torches; using other elements besides carbon, hydrogen and inert gas in case of use of plasma jets
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/278 doping or introduction of a secondary phase in the diamond
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/279 control of diamond crystallography
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/29 characterised by the material , e.g. carbon interlayer dielectrics H01L23/5329
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/3107 the device being completely enclosed
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

An implantable biocompatible electrical device is uniformly covered with a coating approximately one-micron thick of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond, hermetically sealing the electrical device. Selected electrodes are either left uncovered during coating or uncovered by conventional patterning techniques, allowing the electrodes to be exposed to living tissue and fluids. The ultra-nanocrystalline diamond coating may be doped to create electrically conductive electrodes. These approaches eliminate the need for a hermetically sealed lid or cover to protect electrical circuitry, and thus allow the device to be thinner than otherwise possible. The conformal ultra-nanocrystalline diamond coating uniformly covers the device, providing relief from sharp edges and producing a strong, uniformly thick hermetic coating around sharp edges and on high aspect-ratio parts.

Claims

1. A biocompatible device comprising:

an electrical device, including an electronic circuit, for implantation in living tissue;

a thin film of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond deposited on the electrical device wherein the thin film forms at least a portion of a biocompatible hermetically sealed package suitable for chronic implantation.

2. The biocompatible device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical device is comprised of one or more subassemblies which are coated with the thin film of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond to achieve a biocompatible hermetically sealed package.

3. The biocompatible device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical device is at least partially coated with an thin film of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond that comprises an electrical insulator.

4. The biocompatible device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical device is at least partially coated with a thin film of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond that comprises an electrical conductor.

5. The biocompatible device according to claim 1, wherein the thin film of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond is doped to provide for electrical conductivity.

6. The biocompatible device according to claim 1, wherein the thin film of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond is doped to form one or more electrodes, where the one or more electrodes are an integral part of the thin film of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond, for communicating electrical signals with living tissue.

7. The biocompatible device according to claim 1, wherein the doping is selective, forming electric conductivity in some locations and electrical insulation in other locations.

8. The biocompatible device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a sensor.

9. The biocompatible device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a stimulator.

10. The biocompatible device according to claim 9, wherein the stimulator comprises a retinal electrode array prosthesis.

11. The biocompatible device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical device comprises an electrically conducting wire.

12. The biocompatible device according to claim 11, wherein the electrically conducting wire comprises a coil.

13. The biocompatible device according to claim 1, wherein the thin film of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond is approximately constant in thickness over uneven portion of the electrical device to provide a smooth coating with rounded edges.

14. The biocompatible device according to claim 1, wherein the thin film of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond is patterned by photolithography.

15. The biocompatible device according to claim 1, wherein the thin film of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond is patterned by selective seeding.

16. The biocompatible device according to claim 1, wherein the thin film of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond is patterned by oxygen etching.

17. The biocompatible device according to claim 1, wherein the thin film ultra-nanocrystalline diamond adapted to form a capacitive relationship with living tissue that is in close proximity to the biocompatible device.

18. A biocompatible device comprising:

A magnetic device for implantation in living tissue;

a thin film of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond deposited on the magnetic device wherein the thin film forms at least a portion of a biocompatible hermetically sealed package.