Patent ID: 8801942

Claim:
A method for manufacturing an intraocular retinal implant, that can stimulate cells of a retina by sending electrical impulses to produce an artificial vision, the implant including a flexible plate made of a biocompatible and electrically insulting material, which includes, on one face thereof, a plurality of electrodes made of doped diamond spaced apart from each other and connected to interconnection lines configured to lead an electric current to the electrodes so that they can transmit electrical impulses to cells of the retina, the method comprising: a) providing a mold capable of supporting growth of a layer of doped diamond, the mold comprising, on one face thereof, a set of elements, which are all depressed or all projecting with respect to the surface of the face, and which constitute a pattern cavity for the electrodes of the implant which it is desired to obtain; b) producing electrodes made of doped diamond by growing a layer of doped diamond in all or part of a space occupied by the elements of the pattern cavity; c) forming a first layer of electrically insulating material on the face of the mold comprising the pattern cavity, the first layer covering at least a space between the electrodes, while leaving uncovered at least a part of the surface of each electrode; d) producing interconnection lines by depositing an electrically conductive material at least in spaces not covered by the first layer of electrically insulating material; e) forming a second layer of electrically insulating material on the face of the mold including the pattern cavity, the second layer covering the interconnection lines and the first and the second layers of electrically insulating material forming the flexible plate of the implant; and f) removing the mold, thus obtaining the intraocular retinal implant.