CMOS-Based Multichip Networked Flexible Retinal Stimulator Designed for Image-Based Retinal Prosthesis

• Published in: IEEE transactions on electron devices Vol. 56; no. 11; pp. 2577 - 2585
• Main Authors: Tokuda, T., Hiyama, K., Sawamura, S., Sasagawa, K., Terasawa, Y., Nishida, K., Kitaguchi, Y., Fujikado, T., Tano, Y., Ohta, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01-11-2009; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Biomedical; Biomedical imaging; Biomedical materials; Chips; CMOS; CMOS biomedical device; CMOS technology; image sensor; Image sensors; In vivo testing; neural stimulator; Prosthetics; Retina; retinal prosthesis; Stimulation; Stimulators; Surgical implants
• ISSN: 0018-9383; 1557-9646
• DOI: 10.1109/TED.2009.2030552

We propose and characterize a CMOS LSI-based neural stimulator for retinal prosthesis technology. The stimulator is based upon a multichip architecture in which small-sized CMOS stimulators named ldquounit chipsrdquo are organized on a flexible substrate. We designed a unit chip with an on-chip stimulator and light-sensing circuitry. We verified that all the functions implemented on the unit chip worked correctly and that an organized unit chip can be used as a retinal stimulator with multisite image-based patterned stimulation. We also demonstrated light-controlled retinal stimulation for the first time in an in vivo animal experiment on a rabbit's retina.