Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research (대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지)

The Korean Society of Medical and Biological Engineering (대한의용생체공학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Development of Retinal Prosthesis Module for Fully Implantable Retinal Prosthesis

완전삽입형 인공망막 구현을 위한 인공망막모듈 개발

  • Received : 2010.03.17
  • Accepted : 2010.05.24
  • Published : 2010.09.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

To restore visual sensation of blind patients, we have proposed a fully implantable retinal prosthesis comprising an three dimensionally (3D) stacked retinal chip for transforming optical signal to electrical signal, a flexible cable with stimulus electrode array for stimulating retina cells, and coupling coils for power transmission. The 3D stacked retinal chip is consisted of several LSI chips such as photodetector, signal processing circuit, and stimulus current generator. They are vertically stacked and electrically connected using 3D integration technology. Our retinal prosthesis has a small size and lightweight with high resolution, therefore it could increase the patients` quality of life (QOL). For realizing the fully implantable retinal prosthesis, we developed a retinal prosthesis module comprising a retinal prosthesis chip and a flexible cable with stimulus electrode array for generating optimal stimulus current. In this study, we used a 2D retinal chip as a prototype retinal prosthesis chip. We fabricated the polymide-based flexible cable of $20{\mu}m$ thickness where 16 channels Pt stimulus electrode array was formed in the cable. Pt electrode has an impedance of $9.9k{\Omega}$ at 400Hz frequency. The retinal prosthesis chip was mounted on the flexible cable by an epoxy and electrically connected by Au wire. The retinal prosthesis chip was cappted by a silicone to pretect from corrosive environments in an eyeball. Then, the fabricated retinal prosthesis module was implanted into an eyeball of a rabbit. We successfully recorded electrically evoked potential (EEP) elicited from the rabbit brain by the current stimulation supplied from the implanted retinal prosthesis module. EEP amplitude was increased linearly with illumination intensity and irradiation time of incident light. The retinal prosthesis chip was well functioned after implanting into the eyeball of the rabbit.

Keywords

References

  1. N.E. Medeiros and C.A. Curcio, "Preservation of ganglion cell layer neurons in age-related macular degeneration", Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science vol. 42, pp. 795-803, 2001.
  2. W. Liu, K. Vichienchom, M. Clements, S. C. DeMarco, C. Hughes, E. McGucken, M. S. Humayun, E. de Juan, J. D. Weiland, and R. Greenberg, "A Neuro-Stimulus Chip with Telemetry Unit for Retinal Prosthetic Device", IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 35, pp. 1487-1497, 2000. https://doi.org/10.1109/4.871327
  3. E. Margalit, J.D. Weiland, R.E.Clatterbuck, G.Y. Fujii, M.Maia, M.Tameesh, G. Torres, S.A.D'Anna, D.V. Piyathaisere, A.OIivi, E.de Juan, Jr, .M.S. Humayun, "Visual and electrical evoked response recorded from subdural electrodes implanted above the visual cortex in normal dogs under two methods of anesthesia", J. Neuroscience Meihodr, vol. 123, pp. 129-137,2003.
  4. Humayun MS, Juan E, Weiland JE, Dagnelie G, Katona S, Greenberg R, and Suzuki S. "Pattern electrical stimulation of the human retina", Vision Research, vol. 39, pp. 2569-2576, 1999. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0042-6989(99)00052-8
  5. E. Margalit, M. Maia, J.D. Weiland, R.J.-Greenberg, G.Y. Fujii, G. Torres, D.V. Piyathaisere, T. M. O'Hearn, W. Liu, G. Lazzi et al, "Retinal Prosthesis for the Blind", Survey of Uphthalmologv, vol. 47, ISSUE 4, pp. 335-356, 2002. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0039-6257(02)00311-9
  6. Ohta J, Yoshida N, Kagawa K, and Nunoshita M., "Proposal of application of pulsed vision chip for retinal prosthesis", Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 41, pp. 2322-2325, 2002. https://doi.org/10.1143/JJAP.41.2322
  7. D. Scribner, L. Johnson, P. Skeath, R. Klein, D. Ilg, L. Wasserman, N. Fernandez, W. Freeman, J. Peele, F. Keith Perkins, E.J. Friebele, W.E. Bassett, J.G. Howard, and W. Krebs, "A Retinal Prosthesis Technology Based on CMOS Microelectronics and Microwire Glass Electrodes", IEEE Trons. on Biomedical Circuits and Systems, vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 73-83, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1109/TBCAS.2007.893186
  8. T. Schanze, L. Hesse, C. Lau, N. Greve, W. Haberer, S. Kammer, T. Doerge, A. Rentzos, and T. Stieglitz, "An Optically Powered Single-Channel Stimulation Implant as Test System for Chronic Biocompatibility and Biostability of Miniaturized Retinal Vision Prostheses", IEEE Trons. on Biomedical Circuits and Systems, vol. 54, No. 6, pp. 983-992, 2007.
  9. Kurino H, Lee KW, Nakamura T, Sakuma K, Park KT, Miyakawa N, Shimazutsu H, Kim KY, Inamura K, and Koyanagi M, "Intelligent image sensor chip with three dimensional structure", International Electron Devices Meeting Technical Digest, pp. 879-882, 1999.
  10. Koyanagi M, Nakagawa Y, Lee KW, Nakamura T, Yamada Y, Inamura K, Park KT, and Kurino H, "Neuromorphic vision chip fabricated using three dimensional integration technology" International Solid-State Circuit Conference Digest of Technical Papers, pp. 270-271, 2001.
  11. T. WATANABE, R. KOBAYASHI, K. KOMIYA, T. FUKUSHIMA, H. TOMITA, E. SUGANO, H. KURINO, T. TANAKA, M. TAMAI, and M. KOYANAGI, "Evaluation of Platinum-Black Stimulus Electrode Array for Electrical Stimulation of Retinal Cells in Retinal Prosthesis System", Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 46, 4B, pp. 2785-2791, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1143/JJAP.46.2785
  12. Tanaka T, Sato K, Komiya K, Kobayashi T, Watanabe T, Fukushima T, Tomita H, Kurino H, Tamai M, and Koyanagi M., "Fully Implantable Retinal Prosthesis Chip with Photodetector and Stimulus Current Generator", International Electron Devices Meeting Technical Digest, pp. 1016-1017, 2007.
  13. E. Zrenner, "The Subretinal Implant: Can Microphotodiode Arrays Replace Degenerated Retinal Photoreceptors to Restore Vision?," Ophthalmologica, vol. 216, pp. 8-20, 2002. https://doi.org/10.1159/000064650
  14. T. Watanabe, R. Kobayashi, K. Komiya, T. Fukushima, H. Tomita, E. Sugano, H. Kurino, T. Tanaka, M. Tamai, and M. Koyanagi, "Evaluation of Platinum-Black (Pt-b) Stimulus Electrode Array for Electrical Stimulation to Retinal Cells in Retinal Prosthesis System," Jap. J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 46, No. 4B, 2007.
  15. J. Deguchi, T. Watanabe, K. Motonami, T. Sugimura, H. Tomita, J. C. Shim, H. Kurino, M. Tamai, and M. Koyanagi, "Retinal Prosthesis System with Telemetry Circuit Controlled by Human Eyelid Movement," Extended Abstracts of the 2004 International Conference on Solid State Devices and Materials, pp. 350-351, 2004.