Aggregate electrode for neural stimulation
The present invention is a flexible circuit electrode array for neural stimulation including a polymer base layer, a metal trace layer on the polymer base layer, and a polymer top layer on the metal traces layer, where the metal trace layer forms at least one electrode made of multiple smaller common electrodes connected by electrical traces.
1. A flexible circuit electrode array for neural stimulation comprising:
a flexible polymer base layer;
a flexible metal trace layer on the polymer base layer; and
a flexible polymer top layer on the metal trace layer;
wherein the metal trace layer forms at least one flexible aggregate electrode, having a first diameter, made of multiple smaller sub-electrodes shorted together by electrical traces to make the sub-electrodes common, and each sub-electrode is within the first diameter and having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.
2. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , further comprising multiple aggregate electrodes forming an electrode field.
3. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 2 , wherein the electrode field forms a trapezoidal shape.
4. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one electrode surrounded by the sub-electrodes, which is not common to the sub-electrodes.
5. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one electrode is a sensing electrode.
6. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , further comprising groups of sub-electrodes that are separately controllable.
7. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 6 , wherein the groups of sub-electrodes are rings of sub-electrodes.
8. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , wherein the sub-electrodes protrude slightly from the surface of the flexible circuit electrode array and are configured to protrude into cortical tissue.
9. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , wherein the first diameter of the aggregate electrode is between 1 and 3 mm.
10. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , wherein the second diameter of each sub-electrode is about 200 μm.
11. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , wherein the aggregate electrode is protruding.
12. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , further comprising a surface coating deposited on each sub-electrode.
13. The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 12 , wherein the surface coating is platinum grey.