Variable pitch electrode array
First Claim
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1. An implantable electrode array comprising:
- an array body;
an array of stimulating electrodes spaced across said array body in a grid pattern, said electrodes having geographically varying physical continuous surface areas, wherein said electrode physical continuous surface areas are smaller toward a central portion of said array body and said physical continuous surface areas increase proportionally toward an outer edge of said array body; and
a return electrode separate from the array body.
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Abstract
The present invention is an implantable electrode array having electrodes with variable pitch and variable size. Electrode arrays of the prior art provide electrodes with a common spacing and size. However, this is not how the human body is arranged. As an example, the retina has closely spaced retinal receptors near the fovea. Those receptors are spaced farther apart, farther away from the fovea. Further, the amount of electrical current required to stimulate the perception of light increases with distance from the fovea. Hence, larger electrodes are required to transfer the necessary current farther away from the fovea.
67 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An implantable electrode array comprising:
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an array body; an array of stimulating electrodes spaced across said array body in a grid pattern, said electrodes having geographically varying physical continuous surface areas, wherein said electrode physical continuous surface areas are smaller toward a central portion of said array body and said physical continuous surface areas increase proportionally toward an outer edge of said array body; and a return electrode separate from the array body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An implantable retinal electrode array comprising:
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an array body; an array of stimulating electrodes spaced across said array body in a grid pattern, said electrodes having geographically varying physical continuous surface areas and being spaced apart at varying intervals which are smaller toward a central portion of said array body and increase proportionally toward an outer edge of said array body, wherein said electrode physical continuous surface areas are smaller toward a central portion of said array body and said physical continuous surface areas increase proportionally toward an outer edge of said array body; and a return electrode separate from the array body, wherein said electrode physical continuous surface areas are smaller toward a central portion of said array body and said physical continuous surface areas increase proportionally toward an outer edge of said array body. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An implantable cortical electrode array comprising:
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an array body; a plurality of spike electrodes; said electrodes having geographically varying physical continuous surface areas and being spaced apart at varying intervals which are smaller toward a central portion of said array body and increase proportionally toward an outer edge of said array body. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification