The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Feb. 21, 2006

Filed:

Jun. 27, 2002
Applicants:

Harvey A. Fishman, Menlo Park, CA (US);

Mark Blumenkranz, Portola Valley, CA (US);

Stacey F. Bent, Palo Alto, CA (US);

David M. Bloom, Wilson, WY (US);

Mark C. Peterman, Stanford, CA (US);

Inventors:

Harvey A. Fishman, Menlo Park, CA (US);

Mark Blumenkranz, Portola Valley, CA (US);

Stacey F. Bent, Palo Alto, CA (US);

David M. Bloom, Wilson, WY (US);

Mark C. Peterman, Stanford, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A61F 2/14 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

The invention provides microfabricated devices and methods for directing the growth of a cell process to form an artificial synapse. The devices are called 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. The invention further provides devices and methods for regenerating a nerve fiber 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.


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