Method of manufacturing a flexible circuit electrode array with at least one tack opening

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9643002-B2
Application number	US-201113167074-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2011
Priority date	Apr 28, 2005
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

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 method of making a flexible circuit electrode array comprising:
depositing a polymer base layer, hard enough to support metal traces;
depositing metal on said polymer base layer;
patterning said metal to form metal traces and metal electrodes;
depositing a polymer top layer on said polymer base layer and said metal traces preparing openings in said polymer top layer to expose said electrodes;
depositing a soft polymer layer, softer than said polymer base layer, over said polymer top layer including covering at least a portion of its edges, the soft polymer layer being a part of the final device and suitable to protect neural tissue from the flexible circuit;
preparing at least one first tack opening through said polymer base layer and said polymer top layer near said electrodes suitable for attaching said flexible circuit electrode array to a retina; and
forming a membrane of polymer softer than said polymer base layer around the first tack opening, and forming a second tack opening within, and smaller than, said first tack opening, through the membrane of polymer, the softer polymer reducing stress transmitted from a tack to the flexible circuit electrode array.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said flexible circuit electrode array is made thinner around said tack opening forming said stress relief feature, as compared with material immediately surrounding said stress relief feature.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said stress relief feature is said tack opening surrounded by a flat or hemisphere shaped membrane.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of molding a portion of said flexible circuit electrode array containing electrodes in an approximately convex spherical curve, to match the curvature of a retina.

Assignees

• Greenberg Robert J
• Talbot Neil Hamilton
• Neysmith Jordan Matthew
• Little James Singleton
• Mech Brian V
• Second Sight Medical Products Inc

Inventors

• Greenberg Robert J
• Talbot Neil Hamilton
• Neysmith Jordan Matthew
• Little James Singleton
• Mech Brian V

Classifications

• H05K2201/09409

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

• H05K2201/09063

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

• H05K2201/053

  Tails · 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