Flexible Circuit Electrode Array with at Least One Tack Opening

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017203097-A1
Application number	US-201715475788-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 31, 2017
Priority date	Apr 28, 2005
Publication date	Jul 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention provides a flexible circuit electrode array adapted for neural stimulation, comprising: a polymer base layer; metal traces deposited on the polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue; a polymer top layer deposited on the polymer base layer and the metal traces at least one tack opening. The present invention provides further a method of making a flexible circuit electrode array comprising depositing a polymer base layer; depositing metal on the polymer base layer; patterning the metal to form metal traces; depositing a polymer top layer on the polymer base layer and the metal traces; and preparing at least one tack opening.

First claim

What we claim is:

1 . A flexible circuit electrode array adapted for neural stimulation, comprising:
a polymer base layer having a bond pad portion, a cable portion and an electrode array portion, and defining a first opening in the electrode array portion; a membrane of soft polymer, softer than the polymer base layer, across the first opening and defining a second opening coaxial with and smaller than the first opening; a metal layer deposited and patterned on the polymer base layer including electrodes in electrode array portion, bond pads in the bond pad portion, and traces in the cable portion, connecting the electrodes to the bond pads; and a polymer top layer deposited on the polymer base layer and the metal layer.

2 . The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane is flat or hemisphere shaped.

3 . The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , wherein the soft polymer contains silicone or mixtures thereof with other soft polymers.

4 . The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer base layer is polyimide.

5 . The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane is below the polymer base layer.

6 . The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane is above the polymer base layer.

7 . The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , wherein the second opening is adapted to receive a tack suitable to attach the electrode array portion to tissue.

8 . The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 1 , wherein the second opening is surrounded and partially covered by a pedestal.

9 . The flexible circuit electrode array according to claim 8 , wherein the pedestal contains a soft polymer.

Assignees

• Second Sight Medical Products Inc

Inventors

• Greenberg Robert J
• Neysmith Jordan M
• Little James S
• Mech Brian V
• Talbot Neil H

Classifications

• H05K2201/053

  Tails · CPC title

• H05K2201/09063

  Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections · CPC title

• H05K2201/09409

  Multiple rows of pads, lands, terminals or dummy patterns; Multiple rows of mounted components · CPC title

• H05K2201/05

  Flexible printed circuits [FPCs] · CPC title

• H05K1/0393

  Flexible materials (H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups) · CPC title