Hermetic diamond capsules for biomedical implants enabled by gold active braze alloys

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dc.contributor.authorLichter, Samantha
dc.contributor.authorEscudie, Mathilde
dc.contributor.authorStacey, Alastair
dc.contributor.authorGanesan, Kumaravelu
dc.contributor.authorFox, Kate
dc.contributor.authorAhnood, Arman
dc.contributor.authorApollo, Nicholas
dc.contributor.authorKua, Dunstan
dc.contributor.authorLee, Aaron
dc.contributor.authorMcGowan, Ceara
dc.contributor.authorSaunders, Alexia
dc.contributor.authorBurns, Owen
dc.contributor.authorNayagam, David
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, Richard
dc.contributor.authorGarrett, David
dc.contributor.authorMeffin, Hamish
dc.contributor.authorPrawer, Stephen
dc.date.accessioned2018-02-12T23:30:43Z
dc.date.available2018-02-12T23:30:43Z
dc.date.issued2015-03
dc.description.abstractAs the field of biomedical implants matures the functionality of implants is rapidly increasing. In the field of neural prostheses this is particularly apparent as researchers strive to build devices that interact with highly complex neural systems such as vision, hearing, touch and movement. A retinal implant, for example, is a highly complex device and the surgery, training and rehabilitation requirements involved in deploying such devices are extensive. Ideally, such devices will be implanted only once and will continue to function effectively for the lifetime of the patient. The first and most pivotal factor that determines device longevity is the encapsulation that separates the sensitive electronics of the device from the biological environment. This paper describes the realisation of a free standing device encapsulation made from diamond, the most impervious, long lasting and biochemically inert material known. A process of laser micro-machining and brazing is described detailing the fabrication of hermetic electrical feedthroughs and laser weldable seams using a 96.4% gold active braze alloy, another material renowned for biochemical longevity. Accelerated ageing of the braze alloy, feedthroughs and hermetic capsules yielded no evidence of corrosion and no loss of hermeticity. Samples of the gold braze implanted for 15 weeks, in vivo, caused minimal histopathological reaction and results were comparable to those obtained from medical grade silicone controls. The work described represents a first account of a free standing, fully functional hermetic diamond encapsulation for biomedical implants, enabled by gold active alloy brazing and laser micro-machining.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research was supported by the Australian Research Council through its Special Research Initiative (SRI) in Bionic Vision Science and Technology grant to Bionic Vision Australia (BVA). The authors wish to acknowledge the facilities and the scientific assistance of the Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility at the RMIT. DJG is supported by an Australian Research Council (ARC) DECRA grant DE130100922. The Bionics Institute acknowledges the support received from the Victorian Government through its Operational Infrastructure Program.en_US
dc.identifier.citationLichter, S. G., M. C. Escudie, A. D. Stacey, K. Ganesan, K. Fox, A. Ahnood, N. V. Apollo, D. C. Kua, A. Z. Lee, C. McGowan, A. L. Saunders, O. Burns, D. A. Nayagam, R. A. Williams, D. J. Garrett, H. Meffin, and S. Prawer. 2015. Hermetic diamond capsules for biomedical implants enabled by gold active braze alloys. Biomaterials. 53: 464-74.en_US
dc.identifier.issn1878-5905 (Electronic) 0142-9612 (Linking)
dc.identifier.urihttp://repository.bionicsinstitute.org:8080/handle/123456789/284
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherElsevier, Ltd.en_US
dc.subjectRetinal prosthesisen_US
dc.subjectDiamonden_US
dc.subjectGolden_US
dc.subjectHermetic encapsulationen_US
dc.subjectBiocompatibilityen_US
dc.subjectNeuroprosthesisen_US
dc.titleHermetic diamond capsules for biomedical implants enabled by gold active braze alloysen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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