Development of chip-surface stimulus electrode array for fully-implantable subretinal prosthesis chip

In this study, we have developed a chip-surface stimulus electrode array for fully-implantable subretinal prosthesis chip. To realize visual restoration with high resolution, stimulus electrodes should be miniaturized and arrayed with high density. When we miniaturize them, however, their electrochemical impedances become higher and their amount of charge injection become smaller. Additionally, as the number of electrodes increases, it becomes difficult to make electrical connection to each pixel of the retinal prosthesis chip and each electrode by electrical wiring. To overcome these problems, we have developed the stimulus electrodes that have low electrochemical impedances and large charge injection capacities, and established a fabrication process of chip-surface stimulus electrode array. We fabricated the stimulus electrodes made of extremely porous platinum which had large-surface-area compared with conventional Pt. We also fabricated the chip-surface stimulus electrodes array on the subretinal prosthesis chip which surface was rough and covered with insulator film.