Journal article
In vivofeasibility of epiretinal stimulation using ultrananocrystalline diamond electrodes
Mohit N Shivdasani, Mihailo Evans, Owen Burns, Jonathan Yeoh, Penelope J Allen, David AX Nayagam, Joel Villalobos, Carla J Abbott, Chi D Luu, Nicholas L Opie, Anu Sabu, Alexia L Saunders, Michelle McPhedran, Lisa Cardamone, Ceara McGowan, Vanessa Maxim, Richard A Williams, Kate E Fox, Rosemary Cicione, David J Garrett Show all
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING | IOP PUBLISHING LTD | Published : 2020
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Due to their increased proximity to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), epiretinal visual prostheses present the opportunity for eliciting phosphenes with low thresholds through direct RGC activation. This study characterised the in vivo performance of a novel prototype monolithic epiretinal prosthesis, containing Nitrogen incorporated ultrananocrystalline (N-UNCD) diamond electrodes. APPROACH: A prototype implant containing up to twenty-five 120 × 120 µm N-UNCD electrodes was implanted into 16 anaesthetised cats and attached to the retina either using a single tack or via magnetic coupling with a suprachoroidally placed magnet. Multiunit responses to retinal stimulation using charge-b..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Mr Rodney Millard from the Bionics Institute for developing the stimulator used in the studies, Ms Tamara Brawn from the University of Melbourne/Bionic Vision Australia for governance and management of the high acuity research program and animal technician staff of the Biological Research Centre at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear hospital. The acute studies described in this work were conducted at the Centre for Eye Research Australia and the Bionics Institute. Funding for this research was provided through the Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative in Bionic Vision Science and Technology awarded to Bionic Vision Australia (2010-2015). The Bionics Institute and the Centre for Eye Research Australia acknowledge the support they receive from the Victorian Government through its Operational Infrastructure Support Program.