Apparatus and method for optical stimulation of nerves and other animal tissue

• US 20070060984A1
• Filed: 10/24/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nervesense Ltd
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Aculight Corp. (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Bendett, Mark, Lemaire, Charles, Webb, James, Hamilton, Charles, Ralph, Heather
• Granted Patent: US 7,736,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/89
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00384 Actuation of one tool by pushing two buttons simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00922 by switching or controlling the treatment energy directly within the hand-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00958 for switching between different working modes of the main function
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2065 Multiwave; Wavelength mixing, e.g. using four or more wavelengths pilot laser A61B2018/2025
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/207 mixing two wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2075 mixing three wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0629 Sequential activation of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light

Abstract

A nerve-stimulation device and method using light to provide a source of precise stimulation on one or more nerve fibers. In some embodiments, this simulation is provided through a device and method wherein a laser- or LED-light-generating source is operatively coupled to an optical fiber, which in turn is coupled to a plug in the end of a holder in a sheath. Light is then passed from the light source through the optical fiber to the holder and out a selected optical tip on the sheath to provide an efficacious amount of light to simulate nerves. In some embodiments, the device is constructed from non-magnetic material such as glass, plastic or ceramics. In some embodiments, the light emanating from the optical tip can be controlled manually or automatically. Some embodiments omit the fiber and use light directly from the laser diode.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first light-emitting source operative to emit an optical signal at a first wavelength that is capable of directly stimulating a nerve of a subject;

an optical-fiber structure having a first end and a second end;

a light-beam coupler that is configured to direct light from the first light-emitting source into the first end of the optical fiber structure;

a light-emitting-source controller operatively coupled to the first light-emitting source to selectively control light output thereof; and

a light-delivery unit operatively coupled to the second end of the optical-fiber structure, wherein the light-delivery unit, the optical fiber structure or both the light-delivery unit and the optical-fiber structure are configured to direct the optical signal onto neural tissue.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first light-emitting source emits infra-red (IR) light from a laser diode.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a second light-emitting source operative to emit an optical signal at a second wavelength that is capable of directly stimulating a nerve, wherein the second wavelength is different than the first wavelength and has a different penetration depth into a given tissue, and wherein light at the first wavelength is applied to achieve a first tissue-penetration depth, and light at the second wavelength is applied to achieve a second tissue-penetration depth.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a second light-emitting source operative to emit an optical signal at a second wavelength that is capable of directly stimulating a nerve, wherein the first wavelength is different than the second wavelength and has a different penetration depth into a given tissue, and variable amounts of the first and second different wavelengths are applied simultaneously to achieve a tissue-penetration depth that is variable based on the intensities of the first and second wavelengths of light.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a third light-emitting source, wherein the third light-emitting source emits visible light, and wherein the light-beam combiner is operatively coupled to direct light from the third light-emitting source into the optical-fiber structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light-delivery unit includes a handpiece configured to be held by hand during delivery of the nerve stimulation, the apparatus further comprising:

a disposable sheath configured to cover at least a portion of the handpiece to provide a sterile covering.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a user-operable control mechanism operatively coupled to the controller to control a function of the controller, the control mechanism being configured to be operated in conjunction with the handpiece.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the user-operable control mechanism is mounted on the handpiece, and configured to be hand operated by a user.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the user-operable control mechanism is mechanically linked to the light-emitting-source controller.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light-delivery unit includes a frame configured to be affixed to the subject, and a moveable light-delivery head connected to the frame and configured to be changeably positioned to deliver light to one of a plurality of locations on the subject.

11. A method comprising:

obtaining, from a first laser diode, a first laser beam having a first wavelength that is capable of directly optically stimulating an action potential in a neural tissue of an animal;

transmitting the first laser beam in an optical-fiber structure;

applying the first laser beam from the optical-fiber structure onto a location on the tissue for stimulation of the tissue; and

obtaining user input and based on the user input, controlling the first laser beam.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first laser beam has an infra-red (IR) wavelength.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

obtaining a second laser beam having a second wavelength that is capable of directly stimulating neural tissue, wherein the second wavelength is different than the first wavelength and has a different penetration depth into a given tissue;

transmitting the second laser beam in the optical-fiber structure;

applying light at the first wavelength to achieve a first tissue-penetration depth; and

applying light at the second wavelength to achieve a second tissue-penetration depth.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

obtaining a second laser beam having a second wavelength that is capable of directly stimulating neural tissue, wherein the second wavelength is different than the first wavelength and has a different penetration depth into a given tissue;

transmitting the second laser beam in the optical-fiber structure; and

applying variable amounts of the first and second different wavelengths simultaneously to achieve a tissue-penetration depth that is variable based on the intensities of the first and second wavelengths of light.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

obtaining a third light beam having a visible-light wavelength;

transmitting the third light beam in the optical-fiber structure; and

imaging the third light beam from the optical-fiber structure as an indication of where the first laser beam is directed.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a handpiece for manually directing the location of the imaged stimulation light; and

covering at least a portion of the handpiece with a sterile cover.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the obtaining user input includes:

coupling a control mechanism to a laser controller controlling the first laser diode in order to control a function of the controller, wherein the control mechanism is configured to be operated in conjunction with the handpiece.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the control mechanism is mounted on the handpiece, and wherein the obtaining user input includes coupling a manual operation of the control mechanism by a user to control the first laser beam.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a handpiece for manually directing the location of imaged stimulation light, wherein the obtaining user input includes;

coupling a user-operated control mechanism to a laser controller to control a function of the controller, wherein the control mechanism is separate from the handpiece and is configured to be operated such that operation of the control mechanism is independent of movement of the handpiece.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a light-delivery unit for directing the location of the imaged stimulation light, wherein the light-delivery unit includes a frame configured to be affixed to the subject, and a moveable light-delivery head connected to the frame; and

positioning the light-delivery head to deliver light to one of a plurality of locations on the subject.

21. An apparatus comprising:

means for generating a first laser beam having a first wavelength that is capable of directly stimulating a nerve of a subject, wherein light of the first wavelength has a first tissue-penetration profile;

means for transmitting the first laser beam;

means for imaging the transmitted first laser beam onto a location on the neural tissue for stimulation of the nerve; and

means for obtaining user input and based on the user input, controlling the first laser beam.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for generating the first laser beam includes a laser diode and means for controlling electrical power to the laser diode to control timing and intensity of the first laser beam.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising means for visibly indicating a location on the subject to which optical nerve stimulation is to be obtained by application of the first laser beam.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising means for generating a second laser beam having a second wavelength that is capable of directly stimulating neural tissue of a subject, wherein light of the second wavelength has a second tissue-penetration profile different than the first tissue-penetration profile, and wherein the means for generating the second laser beam is optically coupled to the means for imaging.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising means for generating a third laser beam that is capable of optically cutting tissue, wherein the means for generating the third laser beam is optically coupled to the means for imaging.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means are compatible with use within a magnetic field of an operating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus.

27. An apparatus comprising:

an elongated endoscope structure having an image-obtaining end configured to be inserted into a small opening in a subject to enable viewing of an interior tissue of the subject;

a first laser diode operable to output a laser beam having a first wavelength, and that is capable of directly stimulating neural tissue of a subject, wherein light of the first wavelength has a first tissue-penetration profile;

a fiber holder operable to hold an optical fiber, the optical fiber having a first end configured to be optically coupled to receive the laser beam from the first laser diode and configured to deliver the laser beam to a second end to stimulate neural tissue of the viewed interior tissue of the subject; and

a user-input interface operable to obtain user input and based on the user input, to control application of the first laser beam.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising the optical fiber.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the fiber holder is further configured to implant and release the optical fiber in the subject.