Retinal prosthesis with separate central electrode array and peripheral electrode array
The artificial percept of light may be created by electrically stimulating the neurons of the retina. While a photolithographed array internal to the retina provides superior resolution, an array external to the retina provides easier implantation and improved manufacturability. Therefore it is advantageous to supply a high-resolution electrode array internal to the sclera, near the fovea and a lower-resolution electrode array eternal to the sclera near the periphery of the retina.
1. A retinal prosthesis comprising:
a high-resolution electrode array including a plurality of electrodes suitable to be mounted internal to a sclera in close proximity to a fovea of a retina and to stimulate visual percepts on the retina;
a lower-resolution electrode array including a plurality of electrodes suitable to be mounted in close proximity to a periphery of the retina and to stimulate visual percepts on the retina, when the high-resolution electrode array is mounted internal to the sclera in close proximity to the fovea of the retina; and
implantable electronics for driving said high-resolution electrode array and said lower-resolution electrode array,
wherein the high-resolution electrode array and the lower-resolution electrode array are physically distinct and separate electrode arrays.
2. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said high-resolution electrode array is suitable to be mounted in a epi-retinal location.
3. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said high-resolution electrode array is suitable to be mounted in a sub-retinal location.
4. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said lower-resolution electrode array is suitable to be mounted external to the sclera.
5. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said lower-resolution electrode array is suitable to be mounted in a super-choroidal location.
6. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said high-resolution electrode array is made from thin film polymer with metal traces patterned by photolithographic process.
7. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said lower-resolution electrode array is formed from wire molded in silicone.
8. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said lower-resolution electrode array is formed in a single unit with said implantable electronics.
9. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1 , further comprising suture tabs connected to the implantable electronics suitable for attaching the implantable electronics to the sclera.
10. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein a cable supplying said high-resolution electrode array and said high-resolution electrode array comprise metal traces sandwiched between thin polymer films.
11. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said lower-resolution electrode array is more flexible than said high-resolution electrode array.
12. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said lower-resolution electrode array has a rounder shape than said high-resolution electrode array.
13. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 12 , wherein both said higher-resolution electrode array and said lower-resolution electrode array are thin film arrays including metal traces, wherein the metal traces of said lower-resolution electrode array are more robust than the metal traces of said high-resolution electrode array.
14. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 12 , wherein said high-resolution array is a thin film array and said lower-resolution electrode array includes tiled small sections of thin films arrays.
15. A retinal prosthesis comprising:
a high-resolution electrode array including a plurality of electrodes suitable to be mounted internal to a sclera in close proximity to a fovea of a retina and to stimulate visual percepts on the retina;
a lower-resolution electrode array including a plurality of electrodes suitable to be mounted in close proximity to a periphery of the retina and to stimulate visual percepts on the retina, when the high-resolution electrode array is mounted internal to the sclera in close proximity to the fovea of the retina;
an electronics package suitable to be mounted external to the sclera;
an electrical cable coupling said high-resolution electrode array to said electronics package; and
a secondary inductive coil, electrically coupled to said electronics package and suitable to be mounted to a side of the sclera;
wherein the high-resolution electrode array and the lower-resolution electrode array are physically distinct and separate electrode arrays.
16. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 15 , further comprising a strap connected to said secondary inductive coil suitable for surrounding the sclera.
17. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 15 , further comprising a strap connected to said lower-resolution electrode array suitable for surrounding the sclera.
18. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 15 , further comprising a strap connected to said electronics package suitable for surrounding the sclera.
19. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 15 , further comprising suture tabs connected to said secondary inductive coil suitable for attaching said secondary inductive coil to the sclera.
20. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 15 , wherein said cable is folded to present a same side of said cable to both said electronics package and the retina.
21. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 15 , wherein said electrical cable is suitable to pierce a pars plana region of the sclera.
22. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 15 , wherein said high-resolution electrode array is suitable to be placed in an epiretinal location.
23. The retinal prosthesis according to claim 15 , wherein said lower-resolution electrode array is suitable to be mounted external to the sclera.
24. A retinal prosthesis comprising:
a high-resolution electrode array including a plurality of electrodes suitable to be mounted internal to a sclera in close proximity to a fovea of a retina and to stimulate the visual percepts on the retina;
a plurality of tiled lower-resolution electrode arrays each including a plurality of electrodes suitable to be mounted in close proximity to a periphery of the retina and to stimulate visual precepts on the retina, when the high-resolution electrode array is mounted internal to the sclera in close proximity to the fovea of the retina;
an electronics package suitable to be mounted external to the sclera; and
an electrical cable coupling said high-resolution electrode array, and said plurality of lower-resolution electrode arrays to said electronics package;
wherein the high-resolution electrode array and the plurality of tiled lower-resolution electrode arrays are each physically distinct and separate electrode arrays.