We provide a 3-dimensional configuration of an electrode array for neural cell stimulation designed to leverage migration of retinal cells into voids in the subretinal space. Walls surrounding each pixel align the electric field vertically, matching the orientation of bipolar cells in the retina, and thereby reduce the stimulation threshold. These walls also decouple the field penetration depth from the pixel width, enabling a decrease of the pixel size down to cellular dimensions. Inner retinal cells migrate into the electrode cavities, which enables very efficient stimulation. Due to 1-dimensional alignment of electric field along the cavities, stimulation threshold current density does not increase significantly with the reduced pixel size, unlike the quadratic increase seen with planar arrays.

Systems and methods for artificial sight in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a retinal prosthesis system including an external controller, a scene imager, an eye imager, an implanted controller, and a stimulation interface in communication with the implanted controller, where the stimulation interface is positioned to stimulate a plurality of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of the eye, where the external controller is configured to obtain image data describing a scene from the scene imager, obtain eye position data from the eye imager, determine a field of view (FOV) in the scene based on the eye position data; where the implanted controller is configured to obtain the FOV from the external controller, continuously select stimulation pulses from a dictionary based on the FOV, and stimulate the plurality of RGCs using the stimulation interface in accordance with the selected stimulation pulses.

Disclosed technology includes a sensory prosthesis configured to automatically select a broadcast channel based on a comparison with a signal from a sensor of the sensory prosthesis. In an example, a sound processor automatically connects to an appropriate wireless broadcast audio channel by comparing the sound the sound processor receives on a microphone with the audio the sound processor receives from each of the wireless broadcast channels that the sound processor can receive. If the sound processor finds a match between the sound from the microphone and the sound from a broadcast, then the sound processor automatically selects the matching wireless broadcast channel. The sound processor then provides auditory stimulation to the recipient based on the selected broadcast channel.

A visual implant (2) comprises an array of micro-electrodes (4) including at least two stimulation micro-electrodes each comprising: a core (106) of conducting material; insulating material (108) surrounding the core; and a layer (112) of metal or metal oxide nano-structures deposited on tips of the micro-electrodes at a front end for interfacing with a target site for visual stimulation; and an integrated circuit (6) to control a pattern of stimulation current driven through the array of micro-electrodes.

Disclosed is a method of forming a conductive diamond layer on a surface of a carbon fibre substrate that is used as a component of an electrode for neural stimulation and/or electrochemical sensing. The method comprises functionalising at least a portion of the surface with a functionalising agent to facilitate coating the surface with the conductive diamond layer. The method also comprises providing a diamond precursor and depositing the diamond precursor over the functionalising agent to form the conductive diamond layer. The disclosure also relates to an electrode that is used as a component of an electrode for neural stimulation and/or electrochemical sensing.

A device and method consisting of conductive, non-conductive, and support materials. These materials when dispensed or extruded onto a multitude of temporary structures will create an implantable conductive and non-conductive structure suitable for neurological electrical stimulation and neurological electrical recording. This structure may also be suitable for delivering fluid and/or contain optical structures suitable for physiological sensing.

The present invention relates to the field of electronic devices, in particular implantable electronic devices, e.g. for bio-medical applications, and more particularly, to hermetically packaged electronic devices for bio-medical in vivo applications and packaging methods for such electronic devices.

In electrically stimulating neural tissue it is important to prevent over stimulation and unbalanced stimulation, which would cause damage to the neural tissue, the electrode, or both. It is critical that neural tissue is not subjected to any direct current or alternating current above a safe threshold. Further, it is important to identify defective electrodes, as continued use may result in neural damage and further electrode damage. The present invention presents system and stimulator control mechanisms to prevent damage to neural tissue.

In electrically stimulating neural tissue it is important to prevent over stimulation and unbalanced stimulation, which would cause damage to the neural tissue, the electrode, or both. It is critical that neural tissue is not subjected to any direct current or alternating current above a safe threshold. Further, it is important to identify defective electrodes, as continued use may result in neural damage and further electrode damage. The present invention presents system and stimulator control mechanisms to prevent damage to neural tissue.

Electrode arrays for biological implants are disclosed. The present disclosure provides array designs for improving apposition (reducing the space between the array and neural tissue). The present disclosure also provides electrode array designs that can be made approximately spherical to increase the field of view of a visual prosthesis while still maintaining good apposition to neural tissue.