Methods for delivery of optical signals to tissue for the treatment of a disease or condition
First Claim
1. A method for stimulation of neural tissue to treat a neurological condition, the method comprising:
- providing a stimulator apparatus configured to operate in or on the neural tissue, the stimulator apparatus including an optical window with an exterior configured to maintain an optical property of the optical window for an extended period of time, wherein the stimulator apparatus is configured to generate one or more optical stimulation signals;
delivering an optical stimulation signal generated by the stimulator apparatus to the neural tissue through the optical window to treat the neurological condition and to allow for measurement of changes in optical properties of the neural tissue; and
modulating the optical stimulation signal in response to one or more measured optical properties of the neural tissue exceeding or dropping below a predetermined threshold.
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Abstract
Embodiments described herein provide methods for treating various conditions and diseases using an optical signal. In one or more embodiments an apparatus is providing having an optical window, which is used to deliver an optical signal to provide stimulation to one or more tissue sites in the body such as the brain, optic nerve, eye, ganglia, spine, or other like site. The optical signals can be used to treat a variety of neurological diseases and conditions including epilepsy, migraine headaches and chronic pain. In particular applications the optical signals can be used to treat, inhibit or prevent epileptic or other neurological seizures by providing an optical input to a foci or surrounding tissue in the brain causing the seizure. The optical signal may also be combined with an electrical signal to produce an aggregate effect in tissue for treating the disease or condition such as a neurological disease or condition.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for stimulation of neural tissue to treat a neurological condition, the method comprising:
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providing a stimulator apparatus configured to operate in or on the neural tissue, the stimulator apparatus including an optical window with an exterior configured to maintain an optical property of the optical window for an extended period of time, wherein the stimulator apparatus is configured to generate one or more optical stimulation signals; delivering an optical stimulation signal generated by the stimulator apparatus to the neural tissue through the optical window to treat the neurological condition and to allow for measurement of changes in optical properties of the neural tissue; and modulating the optical stimulation signal in response to one or more measured optical properties of the neural tissue exceeding or dropping below a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for stimulation of neural tissue in a brain of a patient to treat an epileptic seizure, the method comprising:
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providing a stimulator apparatus configured to operate in or on the neural tissue, the stimulator apparatus including an optical window with an exterior configured to maintain an optical property of the optical window for an extended period of time, wherein the stimulator apparatus is configured to generate one or more optical stimulation signals; and delivering an optical stimulation signal generated by the stimulator apparatus to the neural tissue through the optical window to inhibit or prevent the epileptic seizure, wherein the optical stimulation signal is delivered to a foci in the brain causing the epileptic seizure and to tissue surrounding the foci in the brain causing the epileptic seizure.
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Specification