An active microphotodiode array of oscillating pixels for retinal stimulation

We have developed an active microphotodiode array (MPDA) for retinal stimulation. The unique feature of the device is that each pixel acts as an independent oscillator, whose frequency is controlled by the incident light intensity. The design is based on a double inverter relaxation oscillator, and the photodiodes are of PIN-type. These oscillating pixels stimulate the nervous tissue with bipolar pulses. The prototype stimulator chips are realized in standard 0.35 μm CMOS technology. The reported preliminary data and performance demonstrate the potential of the new concept for future retinal prostheses.

[1]  J. Weiland,et al.  Pattern electrical stimulation of the human retina , 1999, Vision Research.

[2]  T. Stieglitz,et al.  Micromachining of flexible neural implants with low-ohmic wire traces using electroplating , 2002 .

[3]  Ulrich Egert,et al.  Novel thin film titanium nitride micro-electrodes with excellent charge transfer capability for cell stimulation and sensing applications , 1996, Proceedings of 18th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

[4]  A. S. French,et al.  Information processing by graded-potential transmission through tonically active synapses , 1996, Trends in Neurosciences.

[5]  Martin Stelzle,et al.  Biostability of micro-photodiode arrays for subretinal implantation. , 2002, Biomaterials.

[6]  Matthias H. Hennig,et al.  A biophysically realistic simulation of the vertebrate retina , 2001, Neurocomputing.

[7]  D. Bertrand,et al.  A three-dimensional multi-electrode array for multi-site stimulation and recording in acute brain slices , 2002, Journal of Neuroscience Methods.

[8]  Nigel H. Lovell,et al.  CMOS neurostimulation ASIC with 100 channels, scaleable output, and bidirectional radio-frequency telemetry , 2001, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

[9]  Dao-Yi Yu,et al.  Oxygen Distribution and Consumption within the Retina in Vascularised and Avascular Retinas and in Animal Models of Retinal Disease , 2001, Progress in Retinal and Eye Research.

[10]  J. Weiland,et al.  Retinal prosthesis for the blind. , 2002, Survey of ophthalmology.

[11]  J. Weiland,et al.  Long-term histological and electrophysiological results of an inactive epiretinal electrode array implantation in dogs. , 1999, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[12]  C. Kufta,et al.  Feasibility of a visual prosthesis for the blind based on intracortical microstimulation of the visual cortex. , 1996, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[13]  W. Liu,et al.  A neuro-stimulus chip with telemetry unit for retinal prosthetic device , 2000, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[14]  X. Beebe,et al.  Charge injection limits of activated iridium oxide electrodes with 0.2 ms pulses in bicarbonate buffered saline (neurological stimulation application) , 1988, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

[15]  R. Greenberg,et al.  Micromachined electrodes for high density neural stimulation systems , 2002, Technical Digest. MEMS 2002 IEEE International Conference. Fifteenth IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (Cat. No.02CH37266).

[16]  Jörg-Uwe Meyer,et al.  Retina implant—a bioMEMS challenge , 2002 .

[17]  P. D. de Jong,et al.  Retinitis pigmentosa: defined from a molecular point of view. , 1999, Survey of ophthalmology.

[18]  E. Zrenner,et al.  Long-term survival of retinal cell cultures on retinal implant materials , 1999, Vision Research.

[19]  C. Inglehearn,et al.  Molecular genetics of human retinal dystrophies , 1998, Eye.

[20]  E. Zrenner.  Will Retinal Implants Restore Vision ? , 2002 .

[21]  T.L. Rose,et al.  Electrical stimulation with Pt electrodes. VIII. Electrochemically safe charge injection limits with 0.2 ms pulses (neuronal application) , 1990, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

[22]  Y. Yonemitsu,et al.  Gene targeting to the retina. , 2001, Advanced drug delivery reviews.

[23]  Robert K. Shepherd,et al.  Electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve III. Response initiation sites and temporal fine structure , 2000, Hearing Research.

[24]  Sverre Grimnes,et al.  Bioimpedance and Bioelectricity Basics , 2000 .

[25]  E. Javel,et al.  Electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve: II. Effect of stimulus waveshape on single fibre response properties , 1999, Hearing Research.

[26]  J. Sahel,et al.  Retinitis pigmentosa: rod photoreceptor rescue by a calcium-channel blocker in the rd mouse , 1999, Nature Medicine.

[27]  J. Mortimer,et al.  Visual sensations produced by optic nerve stimulation using an implanted self-sizing spiral cuff electrode , 1998, Brain Research.

[28]  C. Karwoski,et al.  Laminar profile of resistivity in frog retina. , 1985, Journal of neurophysiology.

[29]  Markus Schubert,et al.  Optimizing photodiode arrays for the use as retinal implants , 1999 .

[30]  W. H. Dobelle.  Artificial vision for the blind by connecting a television camera to the visual cortex. , 2000, ASAIO journal.

[31]  K. Horch,et al.  Mobility performance with a pixelized vision system , 1992, Vision Research.

[32]  T. Léveillard,et al.  Rod–Cone Interactions: Developmental and Clinical Significance , 2001, Progress in Retinal and Eye Research.

[33]  E. Zrenner,et al.  Towards a Retina Prosthesis Model: Neurons on Microphotodiode Arrays In Vitro , 1999 .

[34]  A. Y. Chow,et al.  Implantation of silicon chip microphotodiode arrays into the cat subretinal space , 2001, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering.

[35]  Bedrich J. Hosticka,et al.  Single chip CMOS imagers and flexible microelectronic stimulators for a retina implant system , 2000 .

[36]  E. Zrenner,et al.  Electrical multisite stimulation of the isolated chicken retina , 2000, Vision Research.

[37]  Rolf Eckmiller,et al.  Exploration of a dialog-based tunable retina encoder for retina implants , 1999, Neurocomputing.

[38]  J. Rizzo,et al.  Multi-electrode stimulation and recording in the isolated retina , 2000, Journal of Neuroscience Methods.

[39]  Y. Tai,et al.  The neurochip: a new multielectrode device for stimulating and recording from cultured neurons , 1999, Journal of Neuroscience Methods.