Variable pitch electrode array
US7149586B2 · kind B2 · utility
60Cited by
25References
21Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 24, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2562/046
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention is an implantable electrode array having electrodes with variable pitch and variable size. Electrode arrays of the prior art provide electrodes with a common spacing and size. However, this is not how the human body is arranged. As an example, the retina has closely spaced retinal receptors near the fovea. Those receptors are spaced farther apart, farther away from the fovea. Further, the amount of electrical current required to stimulate the perception of light increases with distance from the fovea. Hence, larger electrodes are required to transfer the necessary current farther away from the fovea.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.