Abstract
A flexible multi-electrode array (MEA) with an embedded silicon chip for electrical stimulation of neurons or for recording action potentials has been manufactured and characterized. Possible improvements for medical applications using this novel approach are presented. By connecting and addressing several of these MEAs via a bus system, the number and the density of electrodes can be increased significantly. This is interesting for medical applications such as retinal implants and cochlear implants, and also for deep brain stimulators. Design and fabrication techniques for the multi-electrode array are presented. Finally, first results of mechanical stress tests are shown.
Highlights
By connecting and addressing several of these multi-electrode array (MEA) via a bus system, the number and the density of electrodes can be increased significantly. This is interesting for medical applications such as retinal implants and cochlear implants, and for deep brain stimulators
Micro-electrodes for stimulating neurons or for recording action potentials are widely used in medical applications
Worldwide more than 3 million people suffer from Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)
Summary
Micro-electrodes for stimulating neurons or for recording action potentials are widely used in medical applications. One electrical stimulation concept that has been realized is the “EPI-RET-3” wireless-powered implant system funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) This system consists of an extraocular part and an intraocular part, see Fig. 1. The electrode array is connected via conductor tracks with the electronic components located in an artificial lens in the posterior chamber This epiretinal implant has been tested in animal experiments, but has already been implanted in the eyes of six blind RP patients. The step will be to design and develop a second-generation wireless implant system with a considerably higher number of electrodes, increasing the spatial resolution as well as the sight of view [2] It would be a major technical task to contact a microelectrode array with for example 1000 electrodes by separate tracks and to control them. The following sections will present the design and the fabrication of a “flexible intelligent electrode”
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