Artificial retina device

Claim 2

An artificial retina device, comprising: a plurality of discrete photodiodes, disposed on one surface of a substrate said photodiodes each including an active electrode layer overlaying a photosensitive layer, each photodiode being connected to an electrical ground, wherein said active electrode layer and ground are made from materials selected from aluminum, platinum, chromium, gold, conductive silicon, or combinations thereof, said photodiodes having electrical outputs that correspond to the amplitude of light incident on said device, whereby said device can stimulate individual or small groups of cells in the inner retinal layer of the eye, corresponding to the light incident on said device.

Claim 3

An artificial retina device, comprising: a plurality of discrete photodiodes disposed on one surface of a substrate, said photodiodes each including an active electrode layer overlaying a photosensitive layer, each photodiode being connected to an electrical ground, said photodiodes having electrical outputs that correspond to the amplitude of the light incident on said device, whereby said device can be implanted in the eye intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of outer layer of the retina, so that each of said photodiodes will stimulate directly individual or small groups of cells in the inner retinal layer corresponding to the light incident on said device, wherein the edges of said implant are rounded to facilitate insertion into the intraretinal space without tearing the retina.

Claim 4

An artificial retina device, comprising: a plurality of discrete photodiodes disposed on one surface of a substrate, said photodiodes each including an active electrode layer overlaying a photosensitive layer, each photodiode being connected to an electrical ground, said photodiodes having electrical outputs that correspond to the amplitude of the light incident on said device, whereby said device can be implanted in the eye intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of outer layer of the retina, so that each of said photodiodes will stimulate directly individual or small groups of cells in the inner retinal layer corresponding to the light incident on said device, wherein the edges of said implant are rounded to facilitate insertion into the intraretinal space without tearing the retina.

Claim 5

The artificial retina device of claim 1, wherein said device is from 2 mm to 20 mm in its maximum width, and from 0.005 mm to 2 mm between said two surfaces.

Claim 6

The artificial retina device of claim 1 that further includes a grasping member.

Claim 7

The artificial retina device of claim 1 further including a plurality of openings between said two surfaces.

Claim 8

The artificial retina device of claim 1 wherein one or both surfaces are curved.

Claim 9

The retinal implant device of claim 1, wherein said first surface includes a plurality of protuberances that extend therefrom.

Claim 10

An artificial retina device, comprising: a plurality of discrete photodiodes disposed on one surface of a substrate, said photodiodes each including an active electrode layer overlaying a photosensitive layer, each photodiode being connected to an electrical ground, said photodiodes having electrical outputs that correspond to the amplitude of the light incident on said device, whereby said device can be implanted in the eye intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of outer layer of the retina, so that each of said photodiodes will stimulate directly individual or small groups of cells in the inner retinal layer corresponding to the light incident on said device, wherein said device includes a flexible member extending therefrom.

Claim 11

An artificial retina device, comprising: a plurality of discrete photodiodes disposed on one surface of a substrate, said photodiodes each including an active electrode layer overlaying a photosensitive layer, each photodiode being connected to an electrical ground, said photodiodes having electrical outputs that correspond to the amplitude of the light incident on said device, whereby said device can be implanted in the eye intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of outer layer of the retina, so that each of said photodiodes will stimulate directly individual or small groups of cells in the inner retinal layer corresponding to the light incident on said device, wherein said device includes a flexible member extending therefrom.

Claim 12

The retinal implant device of claim 8, wherein said flexible member comprises a suture.

Claim 13

An artificial retina device, comprising: a plurality of discrete photodiodes disposed on one surface of a substrate, said photodiodes each including an active electrode layer overlaying a photosensitive layer, each photodiode being connected to an electrical ground, said photodiodes having electrical outputs that correspond to the amplitude of the light incident on said device, said device including plural articulated portions so as to conform to a curved retinal layer, whereby said device can be implanted in the eye intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of outer layer of the retina, so that each of said photodiodes will stimulate directly individual or small groups of cells in the inner retinal layer corresponding to the light incident on said device.

Claim 14

An artificial retina device, comprising: a plurality of discrete photodiodes disposed on one surface of a substrate, said photodiodes each including an active electrode layer overlaying a photosensitive layer, each photodiode being connected to an electrical ground, said photodiodes having electrical outputs that correspond to the amplitude of the light incident on said device, said device including plural articulated portions so as to conform to a curved retinal layer, whereby said device can be implanted in the eye intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of outer layer of the retina, so that each of said photodiodes will stimulate directly individual or small groups of cells in the inner retinal layer corresponding to the light incident on said device.

Claim 15

The retinal implant device of claim 10 wherein said articulated portions include at least one flexible joint.

Claim 16

An artificial retina device, comprising: a plurality of discrete PiN or NiP photodiodes disposed on one surface of a substrate, said photodiodes each including an active electrode layer overlaying a photosensitive layer, each photodiode being connected to an electrical ground, said photodiodes having electrical outputs that correspond to the amplitude of the light incident on said device, the resistances of said photodiodes ranging from 1 ohm-cm to 50,000 ohm-cm, whereby said device can be implanted in the eye intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of outer layer of the retina, so that each of said photodiodes will stimulate directly individual or small groups of cells in the inner retinal layer corresponding to the light incident on said device.

Claim 17

An artificial retina device, comprising: a plurality of discrete PiN or NiP photodiodes disposed on one surface of a substrate, said photodiodes each including an active electrode layer overlaying a photosensitive layer, each photodiode being connected to an electrical ground, said photodiodes having electrical outputs that correspond to the amplitude of the light incident on said device, the resistances of said photodiodes ranging from 1 ohm-cm to 50,000 ohm-cm, whereby said device can be implanted in the eye intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of outer layer of the retina, so that each of said photodiodes will stimulate directly individual or small groups of cells in the inner retinal layer corresponding to the light incident on said device.

Claim 18

A surgical procedure for implanting into the eye an artificial retina device including a plurality of discrete photodiodes, said procedure comprising: making a horizontal incision temporal to the macula, parallel to and through the nerve fiber layer; opening the potential space within the retina; inserting said device into said space intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of the outer layer of the retina with said photodiodes facing light incident into the eye; and closing said incision and space.

Claim 19

A surgical procedure for implanting into the eye an artificial retina device including a plurality of discrete photodiodes, said procedure comprising: making a horizontal incision temporal to the macula, parallel to and through the nerve fiber layer; opening the potential space within the retina; inserting said device into said space intermediate the inner retinal layer and the retinal pigment epithelium of the outer layer of the retina with said photodiodes facing light incident into the eye; and closing said incision and space.

Claim 20

The surgical procedure of claim 13 wherein said device is inserted into said space by inserting a tubular insertion guide through said incision and into said space, and passing said device through said insertion guide into said space.

Claim 21

The surgical procedure of claim 14 wherein said tubular insertion guide is a flattened tube, and said device is passed through said tube by pushing it with a pusher member.

Claim 22

The surgical procedure of claim 14 wherein said guide includes a lip on one end that is introduced into said space before said device is passed through it, said lip adapted to deposit said device in the desired location.

Claim 23

The surgical procedure of claim 15 wherein said guide and pusher member are curved.

Claim 24

The surgical procedure of claim 13 wherein said device is positioned on the macula area of the posterior pole of the eye.

Claim 27

The device of claim 20 wherein said pusher member has serrations at one end.