ARTIFICIAL SYNAPSE CHIP INTERFACE FOR ELECTRONIC PROSTHETIC RETINA

摘要

The invention provides microfabricated devices and methods for directing the growth of a cell process to form an artificial synapse. The devices are call ed artificial synapse chips. The artificial synapse comprises a nanofabricated aperture (about 50-100 nm in size) that connects the cell process to a chemical or electrical means of neuronal excitation. Such an aperture width mimics the length scales of a natural synapse and thus emphasizes the localized spatial relationship between a neuron and a stimulation source. Th e invention further provides devices and methods for regenerating a nerve fibe r into an electrode. The invention thus provides a regeneration electrode that uses a novel neural interface for stimulation and that uses novel surface methods for directing neuronal growth making possible in vivo connection of the devices to neural circuitry in a retina and other anatomical locations.< /SDOAB>