Design and Evaluation of Artificial Retina Device to Benefit Visually Impaired

摘要：9509758，PI-Liu：本研究的总体目标是开发一种由硅激光供电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）为眼腔内隔离的芯片提供电力，以及2）在芯片的相对两侧，制造感光器和电极来刺激视网膜。由于角膜对任何可见波长的激光都是透明的，因此激光器将提供能量来偏置配备有光电导像素的芯片。光伏电池将把激光辐射转换成电流。 使用BPCARC技术，芯片将被抛光到一定厚度，以允许来自制造电极的相对侧的光激活光电导像素。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的制造都可以同时在芯片的单面上进行。 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1000多万患有视网膜色素变性和年龄相关性黄斑变性等视网膜疾病的人重新获得视力。 使用青蛙和兔子眼睛的芯片性能的演示将由约翰霍普金斯大学威尔默眼科研究所的体外视网膜服务进行。

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.