Flexible Circuit Electrode Array Embedded in a Cured Body

摘要

Polymer materials are useful as electrode array bodies for neural stimulation. They are particularly useful for retinal stimulation to create artificial vision, cochlear stimulation to create artificial hearing, and cortical stimulation, and many related purposes. The pressure applied against the retina, or other neural tissue, by an electrode array is critical. Too little pressure causes increased electrical resistance, along with electric field dispersion. Too much pressure may block blood flow. Common flexible circuit fabrication techniques generally require that a flexible circuit electrode array be made flat. Since neural tissue is almost never flat, a flat array will necessarily apply uneven pressure. Further, the edges of a flexible circuit polymer array may be sharp and cut the delicate neural tissue. It is advantageous that the array edges not contact tissue.

主权项

1. A visual prosthesis comprising:
an implantable electronics unit within a hermetic package; a secondary coil suitable to receive visual data from an external source connected to the implantable electronics unit; and
a flexible circuit electrode array connected to the electronics unit including
a polymer base layer,metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue,said polymer base layer and said metal traces are embedded in a body, said body being curved.