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Originally published In Press as doi:10.1167/iovs.08-2500 on March 5, 2009
 (Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2009;50:4337-4341.)
© 2009 by The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.
doi:10.1167/iovs.08-2500
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Feasibility of Microelectrode Array (MEA) Based on Silicone-Polyimide Hybrid for Retina Prosthesis

Eui Tae Kim,1 Cinoo Kim,2,3 Seung Woo Lee,1 Jong-Mo Seo,1 Hum Chung,2,3 and Sung June Kim1

1From the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the 2Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; and the 3Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Nano Bioelectronics and System Research Center (NBS-ERC), Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

PURPOSE. To adopt micropatterning technology in manufacturing silicone elastomer-based microelectrode arrays for retinal stimulation, a silicone-polyimide hybrid microelectrode array was proposed and tested in vivo.

METHODS. Gold microelectrodes were created by semiconductor manufacturing technology based on polyimide and were hybridized with silicone elastomer by spin coating. The stability of the hybrid between the two materials was flex and blister tested. The feasibility of the hybrid electrode was evaluated in the rabbit eye by reviewing optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings after suprachoroidal implantation.

RESULTS. The flex test showed no dehiscence between the two materials for 24 hours of alternative flexion and extension from –45.0° to +45.0°. During the blister test, delamination was observed at 8.33 ± 1.36 psi of pressure stress; however, this property was improved to 11.50 ± 1.04 psi by oxygen plasma treatment before hybridization. OCT examination revealed that the implanted electrodes were safely located in the suprachoroidal space during the 4-week follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS. The silicone-polyimide hybrid microelectrode array showed moderate physical properties, which are suitable for in vivo application. Appropriate pretreatment before hybridization improved electrode stability. In vivo testing indicated that this electrode is suitable as a stimulation electrode in artificial retina.






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