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KR-102963127-B1 - Microelectrode structure for artificial retina

KR102963127B1KR 102963127 B1KR102963127 B1KR 102963127B1KR-102963127-B1

Abstract

A microelectrode structure for an artificial retina according to the concept of the present invention comprises a stimulating electrode column, an insulating wall on the upper surface of the stimulating electrode column, and a ground electrode spaced apart from the stimulating electrode column with the retina in between. The insulating wall is disposed on the edge of the upper surface of the stimulating electrode column so as to expose the upper surface of the stimulating electrode column.

Inventors

  • 임매순
  • 손윤서
  • 노현희
  • 이병철

Assignees

  • 한국과학기술연구원

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20220811

Claims (18)

  1. Stimulation electrode pillars; and It includes an insulating wall on the upper surface of the above-mentioned stimulation electrode column, and The insulating wall is locally disposed on the edge of the upper surface of the stimulation electrode column to expose the upper surface of the stimulation electrode column, and The above insulating wall is a microelectrode structure for an artificial retina having a ring shape that continues continuously along the edge of the upper surface of the stimulation electrode column in a planar view.
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  3. In paragraph 1, The above insulating wall is a microelectrode structure for an artificial retina having a cylindrical shape.
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  5. In paragraph 1, Microelectrode structure for an artificial retina in which the height of the stimulation electrode pillar is greater than the height of the insulating wall.
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  7. In paragraph 1, A microelectrode structure for an artificial retina in which the diameter of the stimulation electrode pillars is 10 μm to 50 μm.
  8. In paragraph 1, The above-mentioned stimulating electrode pillar is a microelectrode structure for an artificial retina containing gold.
  9. In paragraph 1, A microelectrode structure for an artificial retina in which the ratio of the diameter to the height of the stimulation electrode pillars is 4:5 to 7:33.
  10. It includes an array of stimulation electrode structures, The above stimulation electrode structure array includes a plurality of stimulation electrode structures, and Each of the above stimulation electrode structures is: Stimulation electrode pillars; and It includes an insulating wall on the above-mentioned stimulation electrode column, The above stimulation electrode column has a height greater than its diameter, and The height of the stimulation electrode column is greater than the height of the insulating wall, and The above insulating wall is locally disposed on the edge of the upper surface of the stimulation electrode column to expose the upper surface of the stimulation electrode column, and From a planar perspective, the insulating wall is a microelectrode structure for an artificial retina having a ring shape that continues continuously along the edge of the upper surface of the stimulation electrode column.
  11. In Paragraph 10, The above-mentioned stimulating electrode pillar is a microelectrode structure for an artificial retina having a shape of any one of a square pillar, a triangular pillar, and a hexagonal pillar.
  12. In Paragraph 10, The above-mentioned stimulation electrode column includes a body portion and a protrusion on the body portion, and The above protrusion is a microelectrode structure for an artificial retina protruding from the above body part.
  13. In Paragraph 12, The above-mentioned protrusion is a microelectrode structure for an artificial retina in the shape of a hollow tube.
  14. In Paragraph 12, The above insulating wall is a microelectrode structure for an artificial retina that covers the upper surface, inner surface, and outer surface of the above protrusion.
  15. In Paragraph 12, The above insulating wall is a microelectrode structure for an artificial retina containing parylene.
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Description

Microelectrode structure for artificial retina The present invention relates to a microelectrode structure for an artificial retina. The retina is a vital neural tissue that converts external images entering through the cornea and lens into electrical signals and transmits them to the brain. The retina covers an area of approximately 6.25 cm² and contains about 100 million photoreceptor cells. Rod cells, which make up the majority of these cells, convert images into electrical signals, which are then transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve at a speed of approximately 480 km/h. The brain interprets these minute electrical signals to perceive images and make judgments about objects. The retina is one of the tissues with the highest blood supply per unit area; consequently, it requires a significant energy source, and waste products generated as byproducts of chemical reactions must be efficiently removed. If abnormalities occur in the retinal or choroidal blood vessels for any reason, retinal abnormalities will develop, leading to various diseases. Recently, various treatment methods, such as gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and drug therapy, are being attempted to treat patients who have gone blind. However, for most blind patients, the retinal photoreceptor layer is already damaged, meaning the window for gene therapy or drug therapy has passed. Nevertheless, in the case of diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), only the outer layer of the retina, the photoreceptor layer, is damaged; therefore, there is a possibility of vision recovery if the function of this photoreceptor layer is replaced. Consequently, much research is being conducted on artificial retinas that restore vision to blind patients by inducing electrical stimulation of the retinal photoreceptor layer. Figure 1 shows the appearance of an eyeball implanted with a microelectrode structure for an artificial retina according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a microelectrode structure for an artificial retina according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of I-I' in Figure 2. Figure 4 is an enlarged view of aa in Figure 3. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of Comparative Example 1 corresponding to aa in FIG. 3. Figure 6 is a graph showing the current density of the Example and Comparative Example 1 at the target location. Figure 7 is a graph showing the potential of the Example and Comparative Example 1 at the target location. FIG. 8 is a graph showing the potential of the Example and Comparative Example 2 at the target location. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a microelectrode structure for an artificial retina according to some embodiments. To fully understand the structure and effects of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the attached drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various forms and various modifications can be made. The description of these embodiments is provided merely to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention. In the attached drawings, the components are depicted enlarged from their actual size for convenience of explanation, and the proportions of each component may be exaggerated or reduced. FIG. 1 shows the appearance of an eyeball implanted with a microelectrode structure for an artificial retina according to an embodiment of the present invention. The eyeball has a structure comprising a retina (5), vitreous humor (4), neural tissue (7), choroid, sclera (2), cornea (1), lens (3), iris, and ciliary body. The retina (5) may be composed of a multilayer structure of nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer, outer plexiform layer, outer nuclear layer, photoreceptor layer, and retinal pigment epithelium in the direction from the center of the eyeball outward. For convenience of explanation, in FIG. 1, the retina (5) is broadly divided into a retinal ganglion cell layer (51), a bipolar cell layer (53), and a photoreceptor cell layer (55). The photoreceptor cell layer (55) includes rod cells and cone cells. It is illustrated that an inner limiting membrane (57) is placed on the retinal ganglion cell layer (51), and a retinal pigment epithelial layer (57) is placed on the photoreceptor cell layer (55). The microelectrode structure (100) for an artificial retina may include a stimulation electrode structure array (200A) and a ground electrode (300). The stimulation electrode structure array (200A) may be located at the rear of the retina (5), and the ground electrode (300) may be located at the front of the retina (5). That is, the stimulation electrode structure (200A) may be positioned closer to the photoreceptor cell laye