Transretinal implant and method of manufacture
The invention is a retinal implant device to stimulate a retina of an eye thereby producing a specific effect in the eye, such as a vision or drug treatment of a chronic condition. The retinal device is made of a retinal implant that is positioned subretinally and that contains a multitude of stimulation sites that are in contact with the retina. A connection carries a stimulating electrical signal or a drug. The connection passes transretinally through the retina and into a vitreous cavity of the eye, thereby minimizing damage to a nutrient-rich choroid. A lead is attached to a source of drugs or electrical energy, which is located outside the eye. The lead passes through a sclera at a point near a front of the eye to avoid damage to the retina.
1. An implantable device to deliver drugs to an eye, the eye having a retina, a sclera, a fovea, and a vitreous cavity, the implantable device comprising:
a retinal implant that is configured to be implanted subretinally under the fovea for drug release, including a drug delivery device;
a drug reservoir, configured to be on an external surface of the sclera; and
at least one delivery conduit between the drug reservoir and the retinal implant, wherein the at least one delivery conduit is configured to be implanted passing transretinally through a reverse curve into the vitreous cavity of the eye, passing through the sclera at a pars plana, a point where there is no retina, and be attached to the drug reservoir while the drug reservoir is located on the sclera within a body, outside the eye, wherein the implantable device is configured to transfer the drugs from the drug reservoir while the drug reservoir is located on the sclera.
2. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein the implantable device delivers the drugs electrophoretically.
3. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one delivery conduit comprises a tube.
4. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein the retinal implant is configured to be positioned subretinally between a photoreceptor cell layer and a retinal pigment epithelium.
5. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one delivery conduit is configured to pass transretinally through the retina and into the vitreous cavity of the eye, thereby minimizing damage to a nutrient-rich choroid of the eye.
6. The implantable device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one delivery conduit is configured to pass through the vitreous cavity along a curved path.
7. An implantable drug delivery device to deliver drugs for treatment to affect an eye, the eye having a retina, a sclera, a fovea, and a vitreous cavity, the implantable drug delivery device comprising:
a retinal implant that is configured to be implanted subretinally under the fovea to treat a chronic condition, the retinal implant comprising a plurality of orifices;
a drug reservoir, configured to be on an external surface of the sclera; and
at least one delivery conduit connected with the drug reservoir and with the plurality of orifices, wherein the at least one delivery conduit is configured to be implanted passing transretinally through a reverse curve into the vitreous cavity of the eye, passing through the sclera at a pars plana, a point where there is no retina, and be attached to the drug reservoir while the drug reservoir is located on the sclera within a body and outside the sclera, wherein the implantable device is configured to transfer the drugs from the drug reservoir while the drug reservoir is on the external surface of the sclera.
8. The implantable device according to claim 7 , wherein the retinal implant releases the drugs electrophoretically.
9. The implantable device according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one delivery conduit is a tube that transfers the drugs from the drug reservoir to the retinal implant.
10. The implantable device according to claim 7 , wherein the drugs are configured to stimulate living tissue.
11. The implantable device according to claim 7 , wherein the retinal implant that is implanted subretinally is configured to be positioned between a photoreceptor cell layer and a retinal pigment epithelium.
12. The implantable device according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one delivery conduit is configured to pass transretinally through the retina and into the vitreous cavity of the eye, thereby minimizing damage to a nutrient-rich choroid of the eye.
13. The implantable device according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of orifices are preferentially oriented in the retinal implant to selectively release the drugs on or near a desired tissue or location.
14. The implantable device according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one delivery conduit is configured to pass through the vitreous cavity along a curved path.