NERVE STIMULATOR AND METHOD USING SIMULTANEOUS ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL SIGNALS
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- generating an electrical stimulation signal and an optical stimulation signal; and
applying a combination of both the electrical stimulation signal and the optical stimulation signal to a living animal to trigger a nerve action potential (NAP) in vivo.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for stimulating animal tissue (for example to trigger a nerve action potential (NAP) signal in a human patient) by application of both electrical and optical signals for treatment and diagnosis purposes. The application of an electrical signal before or simultaneously to the application of a NAP-triggering optical signal allows the use of a lower amount of optical power or energy than would otherwise be needed if an optical signal alone was used for the same purpose and effectiveness. The application of the electrical signal may precondition the nerve tissue such that a lower-power optical signal can be used to trigger the desired NAP, which otherwise would take a higher-power optical signal were the electric signal not applied. Some embodiments include an implanted nerve interface having a plurality of closely spaced electrodes placed transversely and/or longitudinally to the nerve and a plurality of optical emitters.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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generating an electrical stimulation signal and an optical stimulation signal; and applying a combination of both the electrical stimulation signal and the optical stimulation signal to a living animal to trigger a nerve action potential (NAP) in vivo. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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an electrical-stimulation-signal source configured to selectively output an electrical stimulation signal; an optical-stimulation-signal source configured to selectively output an optical stimulation signal; and a controller operatively coupled to the electrical-stimulation-signal source and to the optical-stimulation-signal source and configured to control them to trigger a nerve action potential (NAP) in vivo. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An apparatus comprising:
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means for generating an electrical stimulation signal and an optical stimulation signal; and means for applying a combination of both the electrical stimulation signal and the optical stimulation signal to a living animal to trigger a nerve action potential (NAP) in vivo. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification