Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

Other

Doheny Eye Institute

Cortigent, Inc.

Second Sight Products, Inc.

Jordan M Neysmith

Robert Jay Greenberg

Neil Hamilton Talbot

James Singleton Little

Jerry Ok

Brian V Mech

Kelly Hobart McClure

Mark Salman Humayun

David Daomin Zhou

Da-Yu Chang

Rongqing Dai

Dao Min Zhou

Kevin Wilkin

Qingfang Yao

Matthew J McMahon

Dilek Guven

Honggang Jiang

Eugene De Juan, Jr

Satinderpall Singh Pannu

James Courtney Davidson

Scott M Loftin

Dustin Tobey

Phillipe John Tabada

Brian Coley

David Marsh

Walter P Little

Boon-Khai Ng

Kevin Wilkins

Jessy D Dorn

Rajat N Agrawal

Mark S Humayun

Jianing Wei

Mohamed Khaldi

Robert J Greenburg

Melody Tabada, Legal Representative

Anne Marie Ripley

Thomas Lauritzen

Anne-Marie De Merlier Ripley

Kelly H Mcclure

Kelly Mcclure

Yao Qingfang

David Daomin Zouh

Neil Hamiton Talbot

A method for manufacturing a flexible circuit electrode array, comprising: A layer of polymer is laid down. A layer of metal is applied to the polymer and patterned to create electrodes and leads for those electrodes. A second layer of polymer is applied over the metal layer and patterned to leave openings for the electrodes, or openings are created later by means such as laser ablation. Hence the array and its supply cable are formed of a single body. Alternatively, multiple alternating layers of metal and polymer may be applied to obtain more metal traces within a given width. The method provides an excellent adhesion between the polymer base layer and the polymer top layer and insulation of the trace metals and electrodes.

Flexible circuit electrode array and method of manufacturing the same

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, or cortical stimulation many 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. By applying the right amount of heat to a completed array, a curve can be induced. With a thermoplastic polymer it may be further advantageous to repeatedly heat the flexible circuit in multiple molds, each with a decreasing radius. Further, it is advantageous to add material along the edges. It is further advantageous to provide a fold or twist in the flexible circuit array. Additional material may be added inside and outside the fold to promote a good seal with tissue.

Flexible circuit electrode array

An implantable device having a biocompatible hermetic package made from a biocompatible electrically non-conductive substrate and a cover bonded to the substrate. In integrated circuit and passive circuits all bonded directly to the substrate.

Package for an implantable neural stimulation device

A method for manufacturing a flexible circuit electrode array adapted to electrically communicate with organic tissue including the following steps:

A flexible circuit electrode array with more than one layer of metal traces comprising: a polymer base layer; more than one layer of metal traces, separated by polymer layers, deposited on the polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue; and a polymer top layer deposited on the polymer base layer and the metal traces. 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, or cortical stimulation many 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.

The disclosure relates to a flexible circuit electrode array comprising: a polymer base layer; metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue; a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and at least one support embedded in said array. The disclosure further relates to a flexible circuit electrode array comprising: a polymer base layer; metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue; a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and a folded flexible circuit cable connecting the electrode array with an interconnection pad. The disclosure further relates to a method of making a flexible circuit electrode array comprising: depositing a polymer base layer; depositing metal on said polymer base layer; patterning said metal to form metal traces; depositing a polymer top layer on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; heating said flexible circuit electrode array in a mold to form a three dimensional shape in said flexible circuit electrode array, embedding a support at least in the base layer, top layer or between the base and top layer, and/or folding a flexible circuit cable at least once connecting the electrode array with an interconnection pad on the array.

Flexible circuit electrode array with wire or film support

The present invention is a flexible circuit electrode array with a polymer base layer, metal traces deposited on the polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue, a polymer top layer deposited on the polymer base layer and the metal traces, and a soft polymer filling a void through both the polymer base layer and polymer top layer, the soft polymer forming drum stress relief around an attachment point.

Flexible circuit electrode array with a drum stress relief

Electrode arrays for biological implants are disclosed. Electrodes are arranged in such a way so that electrical traces overlap other electrical traces in a separate layer without X shaped crossing, while overlapping to a degree sufficient to prevent dielectric breakdown of the insulating, separating layer.

Electrode arrays and their lead for use in biological implants

The present invention provides a flexible circuit electrode array adapted for neural stimulation, comprising: a polymer base layer; metal traces deposited on the polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue; a polymer top layer deposited on the polymer base layer and the metal traces at least one tack opening. The present invention provides further a method of making a flexible circuit electrode array comprising depositing a polymer base layer; depositing metal on the polymer base layer; patterning the metal to form metal traces; depositing a polymer top layer on the polymer base layer and the metal traces; and preparing at least one tack opening.

Flexible circuit electrode array with at least one tack opening

The present invention is an improved hermetic package for a retinal prosthesis implanted in the human body. The retinal prosthesis includes a flexible circuit electrode array suitable to stimulate the retina while connected to a hermetic package on the outside of the eye, the hermetic package including a cover and a base where the cover is bonded to the base such that the cover and base form the hermetic package.

Package for a retinal prosthesis

Electrode arrays and their lead for use in biomedical implants

The disclosure relates to a flexible circuit electrode array comprising: a polymer base layer; metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue; a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and at least one support embedded in said array. The disclosure further relates to a flexible circuit electrode array comprising: a polymer base layer; metal traces deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue; a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; and a folded flexible circuit cable connecting the electrode array with an interconnection pad. The disclosure further relates to a method of making a flexible circuit electrode array comprising: depositing a polymer base layer; depositing metal on said polymer base layer; patterning said metal to form metal traces; depositing a polymer top layer on said polymer base layer and said metal traces; heating said flexible circuit electrode array in a mold to form a three dimensional shape in said flexible circuit electrode array, embedding a support at least in the base layer, top layer or between the base and top layer, and/or folding a flexible circuit cable at least once connecting the electrode array with an interconnection pad the array.

The invention is directed to a method of bonding a hermetically sealed electronics package to an electrode or a flexible circuit and the resulting electronics package, that is suitable for implantation in living tissue, such as for a retinal or cortical electrode array to enable restoration of sight to certain non-sighted individuals. The hermetically sealed electronics package is directly bonded to the flex circuit or electrode by electroplating a biocompatible material, such as platinum or gold, effectively forming a studbump connection, which bonds the flex circuit to the electronics package. The resulting electronic device is biocompatible and is suitable for long-term implantation in living tissue.

Biocompatible bonding method and electronics package suitable for implantation

Polymer materials make useful materials as electrode array bodies for neural stimulation. They are particularly useful for retinal stimulation to create artificial vision. Regardless of which polymer is used, the basic construction method is the same. A layer of polymer is laid down. A layer of metal is applied to the polymer and patterned by wet etch to create electrodes and leads for those electrodes. The base polymer layer is activated. A second layer of polymer is applied over the metal layer and patterned to leave openings for the electrodes, or openings are created later by means such as laser ablation. Hence the array and its supply cable are formed of a single body.

Method of manufacturing a flexible circuit electrode array

An implantable device, including a first electrically non-conductive substrate; a plurality of electrically conductive vias through the first electrically non-conductive substrate; a flip-chip multiplexer circuit attached to the electrically non-conductive substrate using conductive bumps and electrically connected to at least a subset of the plurality of electrically conductive vias; a flip-chip driver circuit attached to the flip-chip multiplexer circuit using conductive bumps; a second electrically non-conductive substrate attached to the flip-chip driver circuit using conductive bumps; discrete passives attached to the second electrically non-conductive substrate; and a cover bonded to the first electrically non-conductive substrate, the cover, the first electrically non-conductive substrate and the electrically conductive vias forming a hermetic package.

Growing community of inventors

Pasdena, CA, United States of America

Jordan M Neysmith