Abstract
The relationship between the parameters of Transcorneal Electrical Stimulation (TES) and its neuro-protective effect of TES on axotomised Retinal Ganglion Cells (RGCs) is still unclear. This work discusses the design strategy of a new non conventional TES stimulator, the micro fabrication processes and characterization of an array of MEMS microelectrodes over a flexible polymer layer substrate to stimulate the human cornea. The micro-array of electrodes, over a flexible smooth biocompatible polyimide substrate, fine tunes the curvature of the cornea. This tool can help researchers to define the optimal electric stimulation parameters required in TES.
Highlights
Retinal degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigments (RP) and Glaucoma are a leading cause of blindness in adult
Important results in RP have been published; among others, we find that controlled electrical signals applied to a small area, inside the ocular glove, over the retina of a blind volunteer via microelectrodes array result in the perception of a small spot of light
Polyimide 2611 Kapton from Dupont was used as supporting microelectrodes substrate
Summary
Retinal degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigments (RP) and Glaucoma are a leading cause of blindness in adult. Transcorneal Electrical Stimulation (TES) has an effect on the survival of axotomised retinal ganglion cells and on phosphene sensation when the cornea is properly stimulated [1]. The relationship between the parameters of TES and the neuro-protective effect of TES on axotomised Retinal Ganglion Cells (RGCs) or its effects on other retinal structures is still unclear [6] [7]. To have a better understanding of that relationship, a strategy is required to fire selected ganglion cells and other cell types [8]-[12]. We believe that this strategy supposes to stimulate with different stimulation parameters, as well as to evaluate the effect of a mixture of several stimulation waveforms. There are two ways in which ganglion cell spiking can be elicited: either through direct activation, where the electric stimulus acts directly on the
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