MINIATURE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPTICAL STIMULATION OF NERVES AND OTHER ANIMAL TISSUE

• US 20080077198A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nervesense Ltd
• Original Assignee: Aculight Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Bendett, Mark P., Webb, James S., Lemaire, Charles A., Miyake, Charles I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,988,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• 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 5/0618 Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue

Abstract

A hand-held self-contained 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 source is mounted to the handpiece. Light is passed from the light source through optical tip 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. In some embodiments, the handpiece contains a self-contained power source, such as batteries. In some embodiments, the handpiece is at least in part, activated by remote control in order to prevent moving the handpiece during activation. Some embodiments include a unit operable to sense a response of nerve stimulation and to suppress a laser-ablation surgery operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a nerve-stimulation handpiece of such small size to be readily hand held by a human used, the handpiece including;

a self-contained power source; and

a first light-emitting source that is powered from the self-contained power source and is operative to emit an optical stimulation signal at a first wavelength capable of directly stimulating a nerve of a subject.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a light-delivery unit operatively coupled to the first light-emitting source that focuses the optical stimulation signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, the handpiece further comprising:

a second light-emitting source operative to emit a first optical pointer signal at a second wavelength that is visible to a human and which is configured to indicate a location of the optical stimulation signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, the handpiece further comprising:

a third light-emitting source operative to emit a second optical pointer signal at a third wavelength that is visible to a human and which together with the first optical pointer signal is configured to indicate a location of a desired focus of the optical stimulation signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, the handpiece further comprising:

a fourth light-emitting source that emits a fourth wavelength capable of directly stimulating a nerve, wherein the fourth 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 fourth wavelength is applied to achieve a second tissue-penetration depth.

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

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a nerve-response sensor; and

a surgical-operation-suppression-signal generator operatively coupled to receive signal information from the nerve-response sensor and, based on the received signal information, to generate a suppression signal for suppressing a surgical operation.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a tissue-ablation laser source operable to deliver a surgical pulse of optical energy capable of ablating animal tissue, wherein the suppression signal inhibits the surgical pulse.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a tissue-ablation laser source operable to deliver a surgical pulse of optical energy capable of ablating animal tissue, wherein the suppression signal variably reduces the surgical pulse.

10. A method comprising:

obtaining, from a first laser diode mounted in a hand-held handpiece, 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;

powering the first laser diode from a self-contained power source mechanically coupled to the handpiece;

obtaining user input and based on the user input, controlling the first laser beam to form a optical stimulation signal; and

applying the optical stimulation signal from the handpiece onto a location on the tissue for stimulation of the tissue.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising focusing the optical stimulation signal to a pattern useful for nerve stimulation.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

powering a second light-emitting source to emit a first optical pointer signal at a second wavelength that is visible to a human and that is configured to indicate a location of the optical stimulation signal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

powering a third light-emitting source operative to emit a second optical pointer signal at a third wavelength that is visible to a human and which together with the first optical pointer signal is configured to indicate a location of a desired focus of the optical stimulation signal.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

powering a fourth light-emitting source that emits a fourth wavelength capable of directly stimulating a nerve, wherein the fourth 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 fourth wavelength is applied to achieve a second tissue-penetration depth.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first laser diode emits infrared (IR) light.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sensing a nerve-response; and

suppressing a surgical operation based on the sensed nerve response.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

ablating animal tissue, wherein the suppressing inhibits the surgical pulse.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

ablating animal tissue, wherein the suppressing variably reduces the surgical pulse.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a handpiece;

means for obtaining, from a first laser diode mounted in the handpiece, 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;

a self-contained power source mechanically coupled to the handpiece;

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

means for applying the first laser beam from the handpiece onto a location on the tissue for stimulation of the tissue.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for removing tissue to effect optical-beam surgery; and

means for suppressing operation of the means for removing tissue.