Single chip CMOS imagers and flexible microelectronic stimulators for a retina implant system

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. A. Physical. 2000-05, Vol.83 (1), p.40-46
• Main Authors: Schwarz, M, Ewe, L, Hauschild, R, Hosticka, B.J, Huppertz, J, Kolnsberg, S, Mokwa, W, Trieu, H.K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical prosthesis; CMOS image sensor; CMOS integrated circuits; Digital filters; Digital signal processing; Exact sciences and technology; Flexible electrostimulator; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Imaging detectors and sensors; Implants (surgical); Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Microelectronics; Optical elements, devices, and systems; Optical instruments, equipment and techniques; Optics; Physics; Signal filtering and prediction; Wireless telecommunication systems
• ISSN: 0924-4247; 1873-3069
• DOI: 10.1016/S0924-4247(00)00290-9

We are presenting CMOS image sensors and a microelectronic stimulator for realization of a retina implant system that will provide visual sensations using electrostimulation to patients suffering from photoreceptor degeneration. Four CMOS image sensors implementing different principles, e.g. linear characteristic, logarithmic characteristic, and local brightness adaptation have been developed. These are directly attached to a digital filter and signal processor unit that computes the so-called receptive-field functions for generation of the stimulation data. These external components are wireless linked to an implanted flexible silicon multielectrode microstimulator which generates electrical signals for electrostimulation of the intact ganglion cells. All components including additional hardware for digital signal processing and wireless data and power transmission have been developed for fabrication using our in-house standard CMOS-technology.