Device and method for transmitting multiple optically-encoded stimulation signals to multiple cell locations
First Claim
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1. A stimulation device for transmitting stimulation information to a plurality of stimulation sites, said device comprising:
- light generating means for generating light having a plurality of wavelength components;
encoding means for separately encoding at least a portion of said stimulation information into each of said wavelength components;
a multiplexing arrangement for multiplexing said wavelength components encoded by the encoding means into an encoded light signal;
a primary waveguide having an input end operationally connected to the multiplexing arrangement for receiving the encoded light signal therefrom, a light-guiding axis for guiding said encoded light signal therealong and an output end adapted to be positioned proximate said stimulation sites; and
outcoupling means provided at said output end of the primary waveguide, said outcoupling means transversally coupling each of the wavelength components of the encoded light signal out of said primary waveguide at different output positions along the light-guiding axis, each of said output positions being coupled to one of said stimulation sites.
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Abstract
The present invention concerns a device and method for transmitting multiple optically-encoded stimulation signals to multiple stimulation sites, especially cell locations. The device uses a primary optical fiber to transmit specific wavelength components of an encoded light signal to output positions along the fiber where they are coupled out of the primary fiber to stimulation sites via electrodes for electrical stimulation of the sites or optical windows and/or secondary optical fibers for photo-stimulation of sites.
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Citations
65 Claims
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1. A stimulation device for transmitting stimulation information to a plurality of stimulation sites, said device comprising:
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light generating means for generating light having a plurality of wavelength components;
encoding means for separately encoding at least a portion of said stimulation information into each of said wavelength components;
a multiplexing arrangement for multiplexing said wavelength components encoded by the encoding means into an encoded light signal;
a primary waveguide having an input end operationally connected to the multiplexing arrangement for receiving the encoded light signal therefrom, a light-guiding axis for guiding said encoded light signal therealong and an output end adapted to be positioned proximate said stimulation sites; and
outcoupling means provided at said output end of the primary waveguide, said outcoupling means transversally coupling each of the wavelength components of the encoded light signal out of said primary waveguide at different output positions along the light-guiding axis, each of said output positions being coupled to one of said stimulation sites. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for transmitting stimulation information to a plurality of stimulation sites, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating light having a plurality of wavelength components;
(b) separately encoding at least a portion of said stimulation information into each of said wavelength components;
(c) multiplexing said wavelength components encoded by the encoding means into an encoded light signal;
(d) guiding said encoded light signal along a light-guiding axis of a primary waveguide; and
(e) transversally coupling each of the wavelength components of the encoded light signal out of said primary waveguide at different output positions along the light-guiding axis, each of said output positions being coupled to one of said stimulation sites. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A cochlear implant for transmitting auditory stimulation information to auditory neuron sites of the cochlea in situ of a patient, said cochlear implant comprising:
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light generating means for generating light having a plurality of wavelength components;
encoding means for separately encoding at least a portion of said auditory stimulation information into each of said wavelength components;
a multiplexing arrangement for multiplexing said wavelength components encoded by the encoding means into an encoded light signal;
a primary waveguide having an input end operationally connected to the multiplexing arrangement for receiving the encoded light signal therefrom, a light-guiding axis for guiding said encoded light signal therealong and an output end adapted to be positioned proximate said auditory neuron sites of the cochlea; and
outcoupling means provided at said output end of the primary waveguide, said outcoupling means transversally coupling each of the wavelength components of the encoded light signal out of said primary waveguide at different output positions along the light-guiding axis, each of said output positions being coupled to one of said auditory neuron sites of the cochlea. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65)
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Specification