JP2003230590A - Intraocular implanting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intraocular implanting device capable of fixing and holding an electronic part of every kind in an eye at a predetermined position. <P>SOLUTION: The intraocular implanting device placed in a patient's eye has a receiving means for receiving the light signal, radio wave signal or image data from the outside of the body, a signal conversion means for converting the signal received by the receiving means to an electric signal, an electrode connected to the signal conversion means to electrically stimulate cells constituting the retina and a substrate plate for arranging the receiving means, the signal conversion means and the electrode. A fixing means for fixing and holding the receiving means to the interior of the anterior eye part is formed to the substrate plate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an intraocular implant device installed in the eye for visual reproduction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as one of the techniques for treating blindness, a research on an artificial vision system in which an intraocular implant device having an electrode or the like is installed in the eye and cells of the retina are electrically stimulated to reproduce the visual sense. Has been done. In such an artificial vision system, a method of stimulating cells by converting an image captured outside the body into an optical signal or a radio wave signal and then transmitting the signal to an intraocular implantable device installed in the eye (hereinafter referred to as "external body"). (Hereinafter referred to as "imaging type") or a method in which an intraocular implant device composed of a photodiode array or the like is installed on the retina and an image is formed on the photodiode array to electrically stimulate cells (hereinafter referred to as "internal imaging type"). Is being considered.

[0003]

In such an artificial vision system such as an in-vivo imaging type or an in-vivo imaging type, since electric power and electrical stimulation data are sent from the outside of the body to the eye, various electronic parts are embedded in the eye. The components that make up the claw device must be placed in the eye. These parts must be fixedly held so that they do not move in the eye. Further, various parts and their joints need to prevent inflow of body fluids and the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an intraocular implant device capable of fixing and holding various electronic components in a predetermined position in the eye, and further, to various electronic components. It is a technical problem to provide an intraocular implantable device capable of suppressing infiltration of body fluid and the like.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by having the following configuration. (1) An intraocular implant device that is placed in the eye of a patient's eye, the receiving means receiving an optical signal or a radio wave signal or image information from outside the body, and the signal received by the receiving means as an electric signal. A signal conversion means for converting into a signal, an electrode connected to the signal conversion means for electrically stimulating cells constituting a retina, and a substrate for installing the receiving means, the signal converting means and the electrode, The substrate is characterized in that fixing means for fixing and holding the receiving means in the anterior segment is formed. (2) In the intraocular implant device of (1), the fixing means is at least a pair of supporting portions extending from the substrate,
The support portion is installed in the lens capsule or the ciliary groove when the receiving means is positioned in the lens capsule of the patient's eye, and the receiving means is fixed by being flexed in the lens capsule or the ciliary groove. It is characterized by holding. (3) In the intraocular implant device of (1), the fixing means is for suturing one end of the substrate to the iris part or the periphery of the ciliary body when the receiving means is positioned in the lens capsule of the patient's eye. It is characterized in that it is an opening provided on the substrate. (4) In the intraocular implant device of (1), the fixing means has a clip shape for sandwiching an iris part at one end of the substrate when the receiving means is positioned in the lens capsule of the patient's eye. It is characterized by (5) In the intraocular implant device of (1) to (4), the substrate is made of a thin plate biocompatible material. (6) In the intraocular implant device of (1) to (5), the fixing means is obtained by cutting out the substrate into a predetermined shape using a laser beam having an ultraviolet wavelength. (7) The intraocular implant device according to (1) to (6) is characterized in that the substrate and a member installed on the substrate are integrally covered with a biocompatible material. .

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an extracorporeal imaging type artificial vision system using an intraocular implant device used in the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 1 is an artificial vision system, which is roughly divided into an external device 10 placed outside the body and an internal device (intraocular implant device) 20 placed inside the eye. In the extracorporeal device 10, the visor 11 is used by a user (blind person) wearing like spectacles. Camera 12 for visor 11
Is provided and is attached at a position where an image in the front direction of the user can be captured. Reference numeral 13 denotes a computer connected to the visor 11, which performs image processing on an image captured by the camera 12, quantizes it, and then generates and modulates a stimulation signal for stimulating cells.

Reference numeral 14 is a light emitting element, and in the present embodiment, an LED emitting near infrared light is used. The signal modulated by the computer 13 is sent to the visor 11 and LE
An optical signal is transmitted from D14 to the intraocular implantable device 20. 15 is a visor 11 and a computer 1
A power source for moving 3 and 16 are primary coils provided in the visor 11. The primary coil 16 is used to supply power to the intraocular implant device 20.

On the other hand, the intraocular implant device 20 includes a receiving section 21 for receiving the optical signal from the LED 14, a signal processing circuit for converting the optical signal received by the receiving section 21 into an electric signal, and a demultiplexer. The signal processing unit 22 provided, an electrode 23 for electrically stimulating cells (in the present embodiment, retinal ganglion cells or retinal bipolar cells) connected to the signal processing unit 22 and constituting the retina, an indifferent electrode 50, and power are supplied. It comprises a secondary coil 24 for receiving and receiving, and a substrate 25 (see FIG. 2) for integrally mounting these components. The secondary coil 24 supplies electric power to the intraocular implant device 20 by electromagnetic induction with the above-mentioned primary coil 16.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the detailed construction of the intraocular implant device 20. The intraocular implant device 20 used in the present embodiment has a configuration in which electrodes are arranged under the retina. 2A is a view of the intraocular implant device 20 seen from above, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along the line AA of the intraocular implant device 20 shown in FIG. 2A. The substrate 25 is made of a material having a light-transmitting property and good biocompatibility, and in this embodiment, polyimide is used. The substrate 25 includes a disc portion 25a and a long plate portion 25b. The disc portion 25a has a receiving portion 21 including a light receiving element.
And a signal processing unit 22 and a secondary coil 24 which are formed of an LSI
And are provided. The receiving unit 21 and the signal processing unit 22 have the same outer shape, and are provided on the front surface side (front side of the paper surface) of the substrate 25. In the present embodiment, the receiving unit 21 and the signal processing unit 22 are provided separately, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the receiving unit 21 and the signal processing unit 22 are integrally formed. You may use the thing. The secondary coil 24 is provided on the back surface side (back surface side of the paper surface) of the substrate 25, and is connected to the signal processing unit 22 by an electric wire 28.

An electrode 23 is attached to the tip of the long plate portion 25b.
Multiple (6 × 6) electrodes are formed to form a multi-point electrode. An electric wire 26 is connected to each of the electrodes 23.
Is connected to the signal processor 22 by extending on the long plate portion 25b to the disc portion 25a. The long plate portion 25b in the present embodiment has such a length that the electrode 23 located at the tip is located around the macula along the retina of the eye when the disc portion 25a is placed in the lens capsule. . Therefore, from the position where the receiver 21 and the signal processor 22 are placed, the electrode 2
The length up to 3 is preferably about 20 mm to 40 mm, more preferably about 25 mm to 35 mm.

The thickness of the long plate portion 25b is 20 μm or more.
About 120 μm is preferable. When the thickness is less than 20 μm, it is difficult to maintain the hardness to some extent and it is difficult to send the electrode 23 to a predetermined position. Also, the thickness is 100
If it is thicker than μm, the long plate portion 25b becomes too hard,
When the electrode 23 is placed under the retina, the retina or the like may be damaged.

Reference numeral 27 is a support portion for fixing and holding the disc portion 25a at the anterior segment. Similar to the support portion provided in the conventional intraocular lens, the support portions 27 have a flexible loop shape, and a pair of them are attached so as to extend from the disc portion 25a. In this embodiment, the substrate 2
5 and the supporting portion 27 are separately formed and joined later, the supporting portion 27 may be integrally formed with the substrate 25. Since the substrate 25 and the supporting portion 27 are integrally molded, there is no joint portion,
Strength increases.

When the support portion 27 is formed integrally with the substrate 25, it is necessary to determine the thickness of the disc portion 25a so that the support portion 27 can obtain a certain degree of hardness and elasticity. Also, when the support portion 27 and the substrate 25 are separately provided and then joined and integrated, it is necessary that the support portion 27 has a thickness sufficient to join to the substrate 25 (disc portion 25a). . When the disc portion 25a and the long plate portion 25b have different thicknesses as described above, a plurality of resin films serving as a substrate material are attached to each other only at the disc portion 25a to have a sufficient thickness. A film (for example, 150 μm to 300 μm) may be used as a single substrate, and a portion to be the long plate portion 25b may be thinly cut to have a predetermined thickness.

Further, the indifferent electrode 50 is formed on the disc portion 25 while being connected to the signal processing section 22. In the present embodiment, the indifferent electrode 50 is formed on the disc portion 25 of the substrate 25.
Is provided, but is not limited to this,
It suffices that the electrodes 23 are formed so as to face each other with the retina interposed therebetween when the electrode 23 is placed under the retina. The term “opposite” as used herein is not limited to the shape in which the electrode 23 and the indifferent electrode 50 face each other, and may be positioned closer to the anterior segment (anterior side) with the retina sandwiched with respect to the electrode 23 placed under the retina. Good.

Further, the formation area of the indifferent electrode 50 is equal to that of the electrode 23.
-In order to efficiently form the flow of electricity between the indifferent electrodes 50, it is preferably as large as possible. It is sufficient that the formation area of the indifferent electrode 50 is sufficiently larger than the formation area of the electrode 23. Further, the indifferent electrode 50 functions as a negative pole when the electrode 23 performs positive electrical stimulation on the cells forming the retina, and functions as a positive pole when performing negative electrical stimulation.

The entire area of the device 20 except the periphery of the electrode 23 and the periphery of the indifferent electrode 50 is covered with a material having good biocompatibility (not shown), and the receiving portion 21 and the signal processing portion 2 are provided.
The body fluid and the like are prevented from infiltrating the secondary coil 24, the joints thereof, and the like.

Next, a method of manufacturing the intraocular implant device having the above-described structure will be described. An electrode 23 made of platinum and an electric wire 26 are formed on one sheet of a light-transmitting polyimide film (preferably transparent with a thickness of about 20 μm to 120 μm) to be the long plate portion 25b. The electrodes 23 and the electric wires 26 are formed by an existing thin film forming method such as a vacuum evaporation method or a sputtering method. Also, the disk part 2
The indifferent electrode 50 is formed at the location 5a.

Next, in order to form an insulating layer on the formed electrode 23, indifferent electrode 50 and electric wire 26, polyimide is applied by spin coating or the like. After forming the insulating layer, the disk portion 25a and the long plate portion 25 are formed by using an excimer laser or the like.
Cut out b together. At the same time, the disk portion 25a
The cutting is performed so that the pair of support portions 27 are formed. The length of the support portion 27 is such that the support portion 27 reaches the ciliary groove when the disc portion 25a is installed in the lens capsule. The film is cut by U such as excimer laser
By using the V-laser, the cutting can be performed smoothly, so that it is possible to prevent the living body from being damaged when the intraocular implanting device is inserted into the eye.

A substrate 25 on which a supporting portion 27 is integrally formed
After cutting out, a through hole is formed in the disk portion 25a for connecting the secondary coil 24, the receiving unit 21, and the signal processing unit 22, and the electric wire 28 is passed there. Further, the electrode 23, the indifferent electrode 50, and the end portion of the electric wire are subjected to a chemical treatment, and an etching treatment is performed to dissolve the insulating layer and expose the electrode 23 and the indifferent electrode 50.

After the etching process, the disk portion 25a is further formed.
A polyimide film cut out in the same shape as the disk portion 25a in advance is attached to a portion (an opposite side where electrodes and the like are formed) with an adhesive or the like to give the disk portion 25a a predetermined thickness.

Next, after connecting the receiving unit 21 and the signal processing unit 22, the receiving unit 21 is bonded onto the disc portion 25a with an adhesive or the like, and the electric wire 26 and the signal processing unit 22 are wire-bonded. Alternatively, they are electrically connected by flip chip bonding. Similarly, the indifferent electrode 50 and the electric wire 28 are also connected to the signal processing unit 22. On the other hand, the secondary coil 24 is attached by an adhesive to the surface (rear surface) opposite to the surface of the disk portion 25a on which the receiver 21 and the like are installed. Similarly to the signal processing unit 22, the secondary coil 24 is also connected to the electric wire 28.

After mounting each electronic component on the substrate 25,
The entire other substrate is covered with a biocompatible material (for example, polyimide, Teflon (registered trademark), silicon, etc.) except for the periphery of the electrode 23 and the indifferent electrode 50. The coating with the biocompatible material is performed by a known resin encapsulation method such as brush coating or dipping. By going through such steps,
The intraocular implant device 20 is completed.

Next, the operation of inserting and installing the intraocular implant device 20 in the eye will be described with reference to FIG. First, the crystalline lens of the patient's eye is removed by emulsification and suction using a known cataract surgery device or the like. Next, the sclera at a site apart from the corneal ear side of the patient's eye by a predetermined distance (for example, about 1.5 mm) is used for 7-8
The insertion opening is created by making an incision of about mm, and the intraocular implantable device 20 is inserted into the eye through the insertion opening. In addition, the retina 2
Incision about mm, insert the long plate part 25b from there,
The electrode 23 is placed on the retina side around the macula, while crawling between the retina and the choroid.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, on the side of the disc portion 25a, the receiving portion 21 and the signal processing portion 22 are put in the capsule from which the crystalline lens is removed, and the supporting portion 27 is brought into contact with the ciliary body groove to form the disc portion. The portion 25a is fixedly held. By thus placing the receiving unit 21 and the signal processing unit 22 in the capsule and using the support unit 27, the receiving unit 21, the signal processing unit 22, and the secondary coil 24 attached to the disc portion 25a are attached to the intraocular lens. It becomes possible to fix and hold like this. At this time, the indifferent electrode 5
0 is placed in the lens capsule, so electrode 23 and indifferent electrode 5
The retina will be located between 0 and 0. Since the flow of electricity occurs between the electrode 23 and the indifferent electrode 50, the electrode 23
It is possible to efficiently stimulate the retina (cells forming the retina) positioned between the retina and the indifferent electrode 50. In this embodiment, the indifferent electrode 50 is placed inside the lens capsule, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the indifferent electrode 50 may be extended from the signal processing unit 22 and may be located inside the vitreous body. Thus, when the electrode 23 is placed under the retina, the indifferent electrode 50 may be placed at a predetermined position in the eye with the retina in between.

In the present embodiment, the support portion 27 has a loop shape, but the shape is not limited to this, and the receiving portion 2
Any shape may be used as long as it can fix and hold the components forming the intraocular implant device such as the primary and secondary coils 24 around the anterior segment of the eye such as the lens capsule and the posterior chamber. Further, the place where the supporting part is brought into contact is not limited to the ciliary groove, but the receiving part 21, the signal processing part 22, and the secondary coil 24 are made by bringing the supporting part into contact with the capsule like an intraocular lens. It is also possible to fix these to the anterior segment.

Further, in the present embodiment, the receiving section 21, the signal processing section 22, the secondary coil 24 and the like are fixedly held to the anterior segment by using the supporting section, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by fixing the disk portion 25a to the iris, it is also possible to fix and hold the components constituting the intraocular implant device around the anterior segment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a modification in which the disc portion 25a is fixed to the anterior segment. Figure 2 here
The components denoted by the same reference numerals have the same function, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 4A, reference numeral 30 is a clip portion for sandwiching the iris. The diameter of the disc portion is larger than the diameter of the disc portion 25a shown in FIG. 1, and when the components that make up the intraocular implant device are placed in the lens capsule, the circumferential portion moves the iris. It is located in a place that is not affected by physical disabilities. The clip portion 30 is the disc portion 2
It is formed on the circumferential portion of 5a and is designed to be clamped from the back side of the iris in a state where the components constituting the intraocular burying device are placed in the lens capsule.

Further, in FIG. 4B, reference numeral 40 is an opening for sewing (sewn) the disc portion 25a to the iris. The formation position of the opening 40 is also the same as the formation position of the clip portion 30, and when the components constituting the intraocular implant device are placed in the capsular bag, the circumferential portion thereof is not affected by the dynamic disorder of the iris. Formed in place. In the opening 40, a suture thread is passed through the opening 40 with the components constituting the intraocular implant device placed in the capsular bag, and the iris and the disk portion 25a are sewn together. It can be fixed and held by the eye. The opening 40 may be stitched around the ciliary body instead of the iris. In that case, the outer peripheral portion of the disc portion 25a has a diameter enough to reach the ciliary body groove, and the position of the opening 40 to be formed is set to a formation position that matches the suture around the ciliary body. There is a need.

Further, in the present embodiment, the optical signal from the extracorporeal device is received by the intracorporeal device (intraocular implant device), but the information is indirectly sent to the eye instead of the optical signal. Any means is possible. For example, radio waves can be used.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an extracorporeal imaging type artificial vision system including an extracorporeal device and an intracorporeal device is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an image in front of the eye is obtained by using a light receiving means such as a photodiode. It is also possible to use it for an in-vivo imaging type artificial vision system that receives (image information) and generates electrical stimulation from electrodes.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the parts constituting the intraocular implant device can be fixedly held on the anterior segment of the eye without impairing the visual sense. Further, since each component and its joint portion are covered with a material having good biocompatibility, there is no infiltration by body fluid or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an artificial vision system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an intraocular implant device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the intraocular implantable device is placed in the eye.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a modification of the fixing means.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Artificial vision system 10 Extracorporeal device 20 Intraocular implantable device 21 Receiver 22 Signal processing unit 23 electrodes 24 secondary coil 25 substrates 50 Indifferent electrode

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 4C081 AB21 CA232 DA01 DA02                       EA02                 4C097 AA24 BB01 CC01 CC04 DD01                       EE11 MM03 SA10

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An intraocular implant device to be placed in the eye of a patient's eye, the receiving means for receiving an optical signal or a radio wave signal or image information from outside the body, and the signal received by the receiving means. A signal converting means for converting into an electric signal; an electrode connected to the signal converting means for electrically stimulating cells forming the retina; and a substrate for installing the receiving means, the signal converting means and the electrode. Then, the substrate is provided with fixing means for fixing and holding the receiving means in the anterior segment of the eye. 2. The intraocular implant device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means is at least a pair of supporting portions extending from the substrate, and the supporting portions are arranged when the receiving means is positioned inside the lens capsule of a patient's eye. An intraocular implant device, which is installed in the lens capsule or in the ciliary groove, and holds the receiving means in a fixed manner by flexing in the lens capsule or in the ciliary groove. 3. The intraocular implant device of claim 1, wherein the fixing means sutures one end of the substrate around the iris portion or the ciliary body when the receiving means is positioned in the lens capsule of the patient's eye. An intraocular implant device, characterized by being an opening provided on the substrate. 4. The intraocular implant device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means has a clip shape for sandwiching an iris part at one end of the substrate when the receiving means is positioned in the lens capsule of the patient's eye. An intraocular burying device characterized by having. 5. The intraocular implant device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The intraocular implant device, wherein the substrate is made of a thin plate biocompatible material. 6. The intraocular implant device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The intraocular implant device, wherein the fixing means is obtained by cutting the substrate into a predetermined shape using a laser beam having an ultraviolet wavelength. 7. The intraocular implant device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the substrate and a member installed on the substrate are integrally covered with a biocompatible material. Intraocular implant device.