Retinal Prosthesis

• US 20130144360A1
• Filed: 01/03/2013
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cortigent Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Greenberg, Robert J., Talbot, Neil Hamilton, Mech, Brian V., Little, James Singleton
• Granted Patent: US 9,186,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0543 Retinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye

Abstract

The invention is a retinal prosthesis with an improved configuration mounting necessary components within and surrounding the eye. The present invention better allows for the implantation of electronics within the delicate eye structure. The invention provides for less height of the part external to the eye by mounting a receiver coil around an electronics package.

Claims

1. A retinal prosthesis comprising:

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

an electronics package suitable to be outside the eye and mounted to the eye;

a cable suitable to pierce the sclera electrically coupling said electrode array to said electronics package; and

a coil electrically coupled to said electronics package and surrounding the electronics package.

2. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the coil and electronics package are suitable to be mounted to a side of the eye.

3. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the electronics package is a hermetic package.

4. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, further comprising a demultiplexer suitable to be mounted internal to the sclera and electrically coupled to the electrode array.

5. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 4, wherein the demultiplexer is integral to the electrode array.

6. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 4, wherein said demultiplexer is suitable to be within the eye, but distant from the electrode array.

7. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 5, wherein said electrode array and said demultiplexer are formed on a common substrate.

8. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 4, wherein said multiplexer is deposited on a thin film substrate.

9. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 8, wherein said electrode array and said multiplexer are deposited on a common thin film substrate.

10. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 9, wherein said electrode array, said multiplexer, and said cable are deposited on a common thin film substrate.

11. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1, further comprising:

a camera for collecting a video image;

a video processor coupled to said camera for processing said video image; and

a primary coil coupled to said video processor for transmitting said video image into a body and to said coil.