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An all-diamond, hermetic electrical feedthrough array for a retinal prosthesis

journal contribution
posted on 2024-11-01, 17:24 authored by Kumaravelu Ganesan, David GarrettDavid Garrett, Arman Ahnood, Mohit Shivdasani, Wei Tong, Ann Turnley, Kate FoxKate Fox, Hamish Meffin, Steven Prawer
The interface between medical implants and the human nervous system is rapidly becoming more and more complex. This rise in complexity is driving the need for increasing numbers of densely packed electrical feedthrough to carry signals to and from implanted devices. This is particularly crucial in the field of neural prosthesis where high resolution stimulating or recording arrays near peripheral nerves or in the brain could dramatically improve the performance of these devices. Here we describe a flexible strategy for implementing high density, high count arrays of hermetic electrical feedthroughs by forming conducting nitrogen doped nanocrystalline diamond channels within an insulating polycrystalline diamond substrate. A unique feature of these arrays is that the feedthroughs can themselves be used as stimulating electrodes for neural tissue. Our particular application is such a feedthrough, designed as a component of a retinal implant to restore vision to the blind. The hermeticity of the feedthroughs means that the array can also form part of an implantable capsule which can interface directly with internal electronic chips. The hermeticity of the array is demonstrated by helium leak tests and electrical and electrochemical characterisation of the feedthroughs is described. The nitrogen doped nanocrystalline diamond forming the electrical feedthroughs is shown to be non-cyctotoxic. New fabrication strategies, such as the one described here, combined with the exceptional biostability of diamond can be exploited to generate a range of biomedical implants that last for the lifetime of the user without fear of degradation.

History

Journal

Biomaterials

Volume

35

Issue

3

Start page

908

End page

915

Total pages

8

Publisher

Elsevier

Place published

Netherlands

Language

English

Copyright

© 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Former Identifier

2006049080

Esploro creation date

2020-06-22

Fedora creation date

2015-01-16

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