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US 2002/0002381 A1Published application
Intraocular electrode
AssigneeSecond Sight, LLC
InventorsRobert J. Greenberg, Joseph H. Schulman
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AssigneeSecond Sight, LLC
InventorsRobert J. Greenberg, Joseph H. Schulman
Estimating the term…
This invention is a method and apparatus for implanting retinal tacks and retinal electrode element with spiked electrodes. In one aspect of the invention, a tack suitable for insertion into the retina is driven into the retina by the repeated minute blows from the rapid contractions and expansions of the piezoelectric crystal. In a different aspect of the invention, a retinal electrode element with spiked electrodes suitable for insertion into the retina is driven into the retina by the repeated minute blows from the rapid contractions and expansions of the piezoelectric crystal. In another aspect of the invention, a single, short impulse is used to drive the tack home. In a different aspect of the invention, a single, short impulse is used to drive the retinal electrode element with spiked electrodes home. With this mode of tack and electrode element implanting, a remotely placed driver couples its motion to the tack using a thin, elongated tube filled with a suitable hydraulic fluid.
A method for implanting a retinal tack comprising the steps:
A method for implanting a retinal tack comprising the steps:
An apparatus for implanting a retinal tack comprising:
An apparatus for implanting a retinal tack comprising:
A method for securing a retinal electrode element to the back of the eyeball comprising the steps:
A method for securing a retinal electrode element to the back of the eyeball comprising the steps:
An apparatus for securing a retinal electrode element to the back of the eyeball comprising:
An apparatus for securing a retinal electrode element to the back of the eyeball comprising:
An apparatus comprising a barb means formed as part of the elongated spike electrode of the retinal electrode element so as to keep the electrode from pulling out of the living tissue in which it is implanted.
A method comprising the step of forming a barb on a plurality of the elongated spike electrodes of the retinal electrode element so that the electrode will tend to not pull out of the living tissue in which it is embedded.
An apparatus comprising a barb means formed as part of the elongated spike dummy non-working electrode to keep the dummy, non-working electrode from pulling out of the living tissue in which it is implanted.
An method comprising the step of forming a barb means as part of the elongated spiked dummy non-working electrode in order to keep the dummy, non-working electrode from pulling out of the living tissue in which it is implanted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.