Evaluation of platinum-black stimulus electrode array for electrical stimulation of retinal cells in retinal prosthesis system

A retinal prosthesis system with a three-dimensionally (3D) stacked LSI chip has been proposed. We fabricated a new implantable stimulus electrode array deposited with Platinum-black (Pt-b) on a polyimide-based flexible printed circuit (FPC) for the electrical stimulation of the retinal cells. Impedance measurement of the Pt-b electrode-electrolyte interface in a saline solution was performed and the Pt-b electrode realized a very low impedance. The power consumption at the electrode array when retinal cells were stimulated by a stimulus current was evaluated. The power consumption of the Pt-b stimulus electrode array was 91% lower than that of a previously fabricated Al stimulus electrode array due to a convexo-concave surface. In the cytotoxicity test (CT), we confirmed that Pt implantation induced no cellular degeneration of the rat retina. In the animal experiments, electrically evoked potential (EEP) was successfully recorded using Japanese white rabbits. These results indicate that electrical stimulation using the Pt-b stimulus electrode array can restore visual sensation.