Silicon based microstructures suitable for intracortical electrical stimulation (visual prosthesis application)

1 January 1988

conference paper
Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

p. 714-715 vol.2
https://doi.org/10.1109/iembs.1988.94953

Abstract

The authors have produced a 0.4-mm*0.4-mm*1.6-mm, three-dimensional, silicon-based microstructure which can be used for stimulation of cortical neurons. The structure consists of 100 pyramidal-shaped needles, each 1.5 mm long with a base about 0.06 mm on a side. The entire structure is passivated with silicon nitride except for the tips of the needles, which are coated with platinum. The mechanical properties of these structures and the tissue reaction to them were studied in cat cortex. Impact insertion of the arrays produces good implantation with minimal tissue insult. Preliminary histological studies suggest that cortical tissues are not adversely affected by these microstructures.

Keywords

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:

Phosphenes produced by electrical stimulation of human occipital cortex, and their application to the development of a prosthesis for the blind
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