Innovation leads to customized treatment: Intraocular pressure sensor implant

Cicor is producing a flexible coil antenna for an intraocular pressure sensor implant made by German company Implandata Ophthalmic Products GmbH. The antenna is used for transmitting and receiving data, as well as supplying power to the micro sensor that wirelessly measures intraocular pressure.
 
The cooperatively developed intraocular pressure sensor is based on a flexible polyimide-based thin film substrate. Cicor produces this base substrate in-house by applying polyimide to a ceramic carrier and then structuring it in the shape of the coil bobbin. The coil is held in place only by small, insular surfaces beneath the coil's windings, which assure the mechanical integrity of the structure. This makes for problem-free encapsulation in silicone, resulting in a long-life implant.
 
Developing and manufacturing the coil antenna for powering the micro sensor in a form that would be compatible with its intended application presented a major challenge. Made from gold, the finished coil is 18–20 μm thick with an exceptionally fine structure (lines 40 μm wide, separated by 20 μm). Designed to minimize electrical resistance, this relatively thick metallization in terms of the separation distance is especially demanding to produce. Subsequently assembling components onto the flexible substrate also calls for a great deal of know-how.

Contact: Mandy Mellen, Cicor Microelectronics
mandy.mellen@cicor.com