Artificial synapse chip interface for electronic prosthetic retina

US7001608B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Trustees of the Lealand Stanford Junior University · US

Inventors

• Harvey Fishman · Menlo Park, US
• Mark S. Blumenkranz · Portola Valley, US
• Stacey F. Bent · Stanford, US
• David M. Bloom · Portola Valley, US
• Mark C. Peterman · Fremont, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 27, 2002
• Grant date: Feb 21, 2006
• Expiry date: May 19, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N2535/10
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention provides microfabricated devices and methods for directing the growth of a cell process to form an artificial synapse. The devices are called artificial synapse chips. The artificial synapse comprises a nanofabricated aperture (about 50–100 nm in size) that connects the cell process to a chemical or electrical means of neuronal excitation. Such an aperture width mimics the length scales of a natural synapse and thus emphasizes the localized spatial relationship between a neuron and a stimulation source. The invention further provides devices and methods for regenerating a nerve fiber into an electrode. The invention thus provides a regeneration electrode that uses a novel neural interface for stimulation and that uses novel surface methods for directing neuronal growth making possible in vivo connection of the devices to neural circuitry in a retina and other anatomical locations.