NANOSCALE SURFACE ACTIVATION OF SILICONE VIA LASER PROCESSING
    82.
    发明申请
    NANOSCALE SURFACE ACTIVATION OF SILICONE VIA LASER PROCESSING 审中-公开
    通过激光加工的硅胶的纳米表面活化

    公开(公告)号:US20080305320A1

    公开(公告)日:2008-12-11

    申请号:US12041652

    申请日:2008-03-03

    IPC分类号: B32B27/16

    摘要: The invention provides a method of activating a silicone polymer surface using a laser, particularly an excimer laser, so that the silicone is more reactive. A silicone article containing an activated surface is also provided, and can be used to make silicone implants that can be securely fixed to tissue. One example is an implantable prosthesis to treat blindness caused by outer retinal degenerative diseases. The device bypasses damaged photoreceptors and electrically stimulates the undamaged neurons of the retina. Electrical stimulation is achieved using a silicone microelectrode array (MEA). A safe, protein adhesive is used in attaching the MEA to the retinal surface and assist in alleviating focal pressure effects.

    摘要翻译: 本发明提供使用激光器,特别是准分子激光器激活硅氧烷聚合物表面的方法,使得硅氧烷更具反应性。 还提供了含活化表面的硅胶制品,可用于制造可固定固定在组织上的硅胶植入物。 一个例子是用于治疗由视网膜外变性疾病引起的失明的可植入假体。 该装置绕过受损的光感受器并电刺激视网膜的未损伤的神经元。 使用硅微电极阵列(MEA)实现电刺激。 使用安全的蛋白质粘合剂将MEA附着到视网膜表面并有助于减轻焦点压力的影响。

    Implantable mechanical pressure sensor and method of manufacturing the same
    86.
    发明授权
    Implantable mechanical pressure sensor and method of manufacturing the same 有权
    可植入式机械压力传感器及其制造方法

    公开(公告)号:US07252006B2

    公开(公告)日:2007-08-07

    申请号:US11148124

    申请日:2005-06-07

    IPC分类号: G01L9/00

    摘要: A biocompatible, mechanical, micromachined pressure sensor and methods of manufacturing such a pressure sensor are provided. The pressure sensor of the current invention includes a high-aspect-ratio curved-tube structure fabricated through a one-layer parylene process. The pressure sensor of the current invention requires zero power consumption and indicates the pressure variation by changes of the in situ in-plane motion of the sensor, which can be gauged externally by a direct and convenient optical observation. In one embodiment, the pressure sensor of the current invention has been shown to work as an IOP sensor for eye implantation where the intraocular in-plane motion of the sensor can be recorded from outside of the eye, such that the intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients can be constantly monitored.

    摘要翻译: 提供生物相容的,机械的,微加工的压力传感器以及制造这种压力传感器的方法。 本发明的压力传感器包括通过一层聚对二甲苯工艺制造的高纵横比弯曲管结构。 本发明的压力传感器需要零功率消耗,并且通过传感器的原位面内运动的变化来指示压力变化,其可以通过直接和方便的光学观察在外部测量。 在一个实施例中,本发明的压力传感器已经被证明可用作眼睛植入的IOP传感器,其中可以从眼睛外部记录传感器的眼内平面内运动,使得青光眼患者的眼内压 可以不断监控。

    Neural stimulation for increased persistence

    公开(公告)号:US20060282130A1

    公开(公告)日:2006-12-14

    申请号:US11506619

    申请日:2006-08-17

    IPC分类号: A61N1/04

    CPC分类号: A61N1/36046

    摘要: The present invention is a method of improving the persistence of electrical neural stimulation, and specifically a method of improving the persistence of an image supplied to a retina, or visual cortex, through a visual prosthesis. A continuously stimulated retina, or other neural tissue, will desensitize after a time period in the range of 20 to 150 seconds. However, an interruption of the stimulation on the order of a few milliseconds will restore the retinal sensitivity without the user perceiving the interruption, or with the user barely perceiving the interruption.

    Retinal prosthesis with separate central electrode array and peripheral electrode array
    88.
    发明申请
    Retinal prosthesis with separate central electrode array and peripheral electrode array 有权
    视网膜假体具有分离的中心电极阵列和外围电极阵列

    公开(公告)号:US20060253172A1

    公开(公告)日:2006-11-09

    申请号:US11418677

    申请日:2006-05-04

    IPC分类号: A61F9/00

    摘要: 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. The preferred method of manufacturing a high-resolution electrode array is through photolithography, which requires the array to be made flat. While it is possible to curve the array afterward, it is difficult and costly. I small high-resolution array can be implanted near the fovea. Due to its small size, curvature is less of an issue. A larger lower-resolution array can be molded in silicone or similar method and placed around the periphery, of the retina, where the retina is naturally lower resolution. Further, the lower-resolution array can be implanted external to the sclera reducing the number of electrical connectors passing through the sclera. Even if a separate lower-resolution array is implanted internal to the sclera, super-choroidal (between the choroid and sclera) or intra-scleral (between the layers of the sclera), it is easier to make a lower-resolution array in a curved shape.

    摘要翻译: 光的人造感知可以通过电刺激视网膜的神经元来产生。 虽然在视网膜内部的光刻阵列提供优异的分辨率,但是视网膜外部的阵列提供更容易的植入和改进的可制造性。 因此,在中央凹附近提供巩膜内部的高分辨率电极阵列和靠近视网膜周边的巩膜永久的较低分辨率的电极阵列是有利的。 制造高分辨率电极阵列的优选方法是通过光刻法,其需要使阵列平坦。 虽然以后可以对阵列进行曲线化,但是难度高昂。 我小型高分辨率阵列可以植入中央凹附近。 由于其体积小,曲率较少是一个问题。 更大的较低分辨率阵列可以用硅树脂或类似的方法模制,并且放置在视网膜的周边周围,其中视网膜天然较低的分辨率。 此外,较低分辨率阵列可以植入巩膜外部,从而减少通过巩膜的电连接器的数量。 即使单独的较低分辨率阵列植入巩膜内部,超脉络膜(脉络膜和巩膜之间)或巩膜内(巩膜层之间),则更容易在较低分辨率阵列 弯曲的形状。

    Micromachined tissue anchors for securing implants without sutures
    89.
    发明申请
    Micromachined tissue anchors for securing implants without sutures 审中-公开
    微加工组织锚,用于固定植入物,无缝线

    公开(公告)号:US20060247664A1

    公开(公告)日:2006-11-02

    申请号:US11371219

    申请日:2006-03-07

    IPC分类号: A61F2/02 A61B3/16

    摘要: Systems and methods for attaching an implant device to tissue by mechanically (and non-invasively) anchoring the device to the tissue. The systems and methods provide a safe, practical way to attach an implant device to tissue in a non-invasive, or less invasive manner. According to the present invention, an implant device includes one or more protruding anchor-like structures for securely attaching to tissue. One or more device features, such as sensing elements, may be incorporated on the implant device. The anchor structures are configured and arranged to match the topology and features of the tissue environment where implant is to occur.

    摘要翻译: 通过机械地(而非侵入式)将装置固定在组织上来将植入装置附着到组织的系统和方法。 该系统和方法提供了以非侵入性或较小侵入性方式将植入装置附接到组织的安全且实用的方式。 根据本发明,植入装置包括用于牢固地附接到组织的一个或多个突出的锚固结构。 可以在植入装置上并入一个或多个装置特征,例如感测元件。 锚结构被配置和布置成匹配将要进行植入的组织环境的拓扑和特征。

    Visual prosthesis including enhanced receiving and stimulating portion

    公开(公告)号:US20060235485A1

    公开(公告)日:2006-10-19

    申请号:US11451956

    申请日:2006-06-12

    IPC分类号: A61F9/00 A61N1/36

    摘要: A visual prosthesis including an enhanced receiving and stimulating portion for electrically stimulating retinal tissue to present an apparent image to a user. The prosthesis includes an extraocular camera which responds to a real image to generate a real image signal. The real image signal is coupled, e.g., RF coupling, from an extraocular primary coil to a secondary coil. The secondary coil is preferably affixed within the vitreous body of the user's eye positioned for good signal coupling to the primary coil and arranged to be in good thermal contact with the vitreous body which acts as a heat sink. A hermetically sealed housing containing signal processing circuitry is also preferably placed in the vitreous body to assure efficient heat transfer away from the housing. The circuitry is electrically connected to the secondary coil and responds to an output signal therefrom to produce an apparent image signal for driving an electrode array. The electrode array is configured to electrically stimulate the eye's retinal tissue to enable a user to perceive an apparent image.