Design and Evaluation of Artificial Retina Device to Benefit Visually Impaired

摘要：本研究的总体目标是开发一种由硅激光驱动双极点接触人工视网膜芯片（BPCARC）组成的植入式视觉假体。该项目将寻求解决两个问题：1)为隔离在眼腔内的芯片供电；2)在芯片的两侧制造光感受器和刺激视网膜的电极。由于角膜对任何可见波长的激光都是透明的，因此激光将提供能量来偏置装有光导像素的芯片。光伏电池将把激光辐射转化为电流。使用BPCARC技术，芯片将被抛光到一定厚度，以允许从制造电极的另一侧发出光来激活光导像素。因此，制造PC光伏电池，光敏或光电晶体管阵列，以及刺激阵列，都可以同时在芯片的单面上完成。成功的结果将提供制造人工植入视网膜所需的基本知识，使1 000多万患有视网膜色素沉着和与年龄有关的黄斑变性等视网膜疾病的人重获视力。约翰霍普金斯大学威尔默眼科研究所的体外视网膜服务将用青蛙和兔子的眼睛来演示芯片的性能。

Abstract: 9509758, PI-Liu: The overall goal of this investigation is to develop an implantable visual prosthesis comprised of a silicon Laser Powered Bipolar Point Contact Artificial Retina Chip (BPCARC). The project would seek to resolve two problems: 1) provide power to a chip isolated within the ocular cavity, and 2) on opposite sides of the chip, fabricate the photoreceptors and the electrodes to stimulate the retina. A laser would provide power to bias a chip equipped with photoconducting pixels, as the cornea is transparent to laser light of any visible wavelength. The photovoltaic cells would convert the laser radiation into electrical current. Using the BPCARC technology, the chip would be polished to a thickness to allow light from the opposite side from where the electrodes are fabricated to activate the photoconducting pixels. Thus the fabrication to create the PC photovoltaic cells, the photosensing or phototransistor array, and the stimulating array, could all be performed on a single side of the chip, simultaneously. Successful results would provide the fundamental knowledge needed to make an artificial, implanted, retina to enable the more than 10 million persons afflicted by retinal diseases such as retinal pigmentosa, and age-related macular degeneration, to regain the sense of sight. Demonstration of the performance of the chip using frog and rabbit eyes would be performed by the Vitro Retinal Service of the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University.