Artikel
Biocompatibility of very large multielectrode arrays for epiretinal stimulation in rabbits
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Autoren
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Anne Christine Schnitzler
- Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen, University Hospital Aachen, Germany
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P. Walter
- Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen, University Hospital Aachen, Germany
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F. Waschkowski
- Institute of Materials in Electrical Engineering, Chair 1, RWTH Aachen, Germany
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C. Etzkorn
- Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen, University Hospital Aachen, Germany
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W. Mokwa
- Institute of Materials in Electrical Engineering, Chair 1, RWTH Aachen, Germany
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G. Roessler
- Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen, University Hospital Aachen, Germany
| Veröffentlicht: | 7. März 2016 |
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Gliederung
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Background: To demonstrate clinical outcome and biocompatibility of very large epiretinal stimulators (VLARS = very large arrays retinal stimulator) in rabbits. The clinical goal is to artificially restore not only central vision but also a visual field in patients with Retinitis pigmentosa or other retinal dystrophies.
Methods: Epiretinal stimulators made of polyimide foils with a diameter of 12.5 mm have been implanted in 10 rabbits (Chinchilla Bastard or New Zealand White). Implantation was performed via a “clear-cornea”-incision and the stimulator was fixed using retinal tacks. Clinical follow-up was carried out for up to 12 weeks, using slit-lamp-examination, funduscopy, ultrasound and photography. After euthanization the eyes were enucleated, fixed in paraformaldehyde and then transferred to “open-sky”-photography and histological analysis.
Results: Implantation of very large epiretinal stimulators shows no significant inflammation or endophthalmitis in the clinical follow-up. The main complications are corneal haze or vitreous haemorrhage, which occur mainly after intraoperative complications. The stimulator maintains a stable position throughout the 12 weeks and shows an overall good epiretinal contact. Clinical observations are validated by histological analysis.
Conclusion: Our experiments demonstrate the biocompatibility of very large electrode arrays for retinal dystrophies. Epiretinal stimulation to generate cortical activation in further animal experiments will follow.
Grant: Jackstaedt Foundation
