Abstract
To extend previous technologies available for artificial retina implementation to monolithically integrate electronics together with photo detectors and the micro electrode array all in a biocompatible and flexible format.Methods:Develop a flexible technology capable of integrating photo detectors, micro electrodes and electronics using CMOS technology. The flexible format allows better proximity between electrodes and retina neurons for local stimulation, and the integrated local electronics allows supplying individual electrode the adequate and appropriate stimulation waveforms right next to each individual electrodes. Use in vitro techniques on device for initial assessments.Results:We successfully implemented a 64-element micro electrode array and a flexible 1,024-element artificial retina with 30 μm pitch (Fig. 1(a)) using this flexible technology. The latter senses local light intensity and generate corresponding biphasic current at each pixel (Fig. 1(b)). We use loose patch and whole-cell patch clamp techniques in vitro to characterize the retinal ganglion cell responses on these arrays Fig. 2.Conclusions:This work demonstrates the feasibility to monolithically integrate electronics using 180 nm CMOS transistors together with photo detectors and the micro electrode array all in a biocompatible and flexible format with the total thickness of the microsystem around 30 μm. Excitation of retina ganglion cells is demonstrated in vitro.