OPTICAL STIMULATION THERAPY

• US 20110125078A1
• Filed: 11/22/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cong, Peng, Santa, Wesley A., Paralikar, Kunal, Munns, Gordon O., Keimel, John G., Nielsen, Christian S., Norton, John D., Denison, Timothy J.
• Application Number:
  US12/951,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20110125078A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/086 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/365 controlled by a physiological parameter, e.g. heart potential evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0612 using probes penetrating tissue; interstitial probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0626 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue

Abstract

A method for delivering optical stimulation comprises transfecting a target tissue with a light-sensitive channel protein sensitive to light in a wavelength range, delivering light in the wavelength range to the target tissue via an optical stimulation device, substantially simultaneously with delivering light to the target tissue, sensing bioelectric signals, determining a patient therapeutic state based on the bioelectric signals, and adjusting the delivery of the light to the target tissue based on the sensed patient therapeutic state.

Claims

1. A method for delivering optical stimulation, the method comprising:

transfecting a target tissue with a light-sensitive channel protein sensitive to light in a wavelength range;

delivering light in the wavelength range to the target tissue via an optical stimulation device;

substantially simultaneously with delivering light to the target tissue, sensing bioelectric signals;

determining a patient therapeutic state based on the bioelectric signals; and

adjusting the delivery of the light to the target tissue based on the sensed patient therapeutic state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the delivery of light comprises adjusting the delivery of the light substantially simultaneously with sensing the bioelectric signals and with delivering light to the target tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the bioelectric signals comprises sensing at least one of a single cell action potential, a local field potential proximate the target tissue, energy spectra in the alpha band of brain activity, energy spectra in the beta band or brain activity, energy spectra in the gamma band of brain activity, electrocorticography signals, and electroencephalography signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering light to the target tissue comprises delivering light through an optical light guide optically coupled to the optical stimulation device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transfecting the target tissue comprises delivering a therapeutic agent to the target tissue that transfects the target tissue.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the therapeutic agent is a gene therapy agent.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering light to the target tissue comprises delivering the light according to an optical stimulation program, and wherein adjusting the delivery of the light to the target tissue based on the sensed patient therapeutic state comprises adjusting the optical stimulation program.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the program includes one or more optical stimulation parameters, wherein adjusting the delivery of light comprises adjusting at least one of the parameters, wherein the optical stimulation parameters comprise at least one of a pulse rate of the light, a pulse width of the light, an amplitude intensity of the light, a duty cycle of the light, and a wavelength of the light.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transfecting the target tissue comprises at least one of transfecting the target tissue with a first light-sensitive channel protein sensitive to light having a first wavelength range and transfecting the target tissue with a second light-sensitive channel protein sensitive to light having a second wavelength range.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein delivering light to the target tissue comprises at least one of delivering light in the first wavelength range to the target tissue and delivering light in the second wavelength range to the target tissue.

11. A method for delivering optical stimulation, the method comprising:

transfecting a target tissue with a light-sensitive channel protein sensitive to light in a wavelength range;

delivering light in the wavelength range to the target tissue via an optical stimulation device;

substantially simultaneously with delivering light to the target tissue, sensing bioelectric signals comprising at least one of a local field potential proximate the target tissue;

energy spectra in the alpha band of brain activity;

energy spectra in the beta band or brain activity;

energy spectra in the gamma band of brain activity;

electrocorticography signals; and

electroencephalography signals; and

adjusting the delivery of light to the target tissue based on the sensed bioelectric signals.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the delivery of light comprises adjusting the delivery of light substantially simultaneously with sensing the bioelectric signals and with delivering light to the target tissue.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein delivering light to the target tissue comprises delivering light through an optical light guide optically connected to the optical stimulation device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein transfecting the target tissue comprises delivering a therapeutic agent to the target tissue that transfects the target tissue.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the therapeutic agent is a gene therapy agent.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein delivering light to the target tissue comprises delivering the light according to an optical stimulation program, the method further comprising adjusting the optical stimulation program based on the bioelectric signals.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the program includes one or more optical stimulation parameters, wherein adjusting the delivery of light comprises adjusting at least one of the parameters, wherein the optical stimulation parameters comprise at least one of a pulse rate of the light, a pulse width of the light, an amplitude intensity of the light, a duty cycle of the light, and a wavelength of the light.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein transfecting the target tissue comprises at least one of transfecting the target tissue with a first light-sensitive channel protein sensitive to light having a first wavelength range and transfecting the target tissue with a second light-sensitive channel protein sensitive to light having a second wavelength range.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein delivering light to the target tissue comprises at least one of delivering light in the first wavelength range to the target tissue and delivering light in the second wavelength range to the target tissue.

20. An implantable medical system comprising:

a therapy delivery module comprising a light source that generates light and a controller that controls the output of the light source;

an optical light guide configured to deliver the light from the light source to a target tissue;

a lead with a sense electrode for sensing bioelectric signals; and

a sensing module configured to determine a patient therapeutic state based on the sensed bioelectric signals substantially simultaneously with the delivery of light from the light source;

wherein the controller is configured to adjust the delivery of light to the target tissue based on the sensed patient therapeutic state.

21. The implantable medical device of claim 20, wherein the optical light guide comprises an optical fiber optically connected to the light source.

22. The implantable medical device of claim 20, wherein the therapy delivery module further comprises a fluid reservoir for a therapeutic agent.

23. The implantable medical device of claim 22, further comprising a pump for delivering the therapeutic agent to the target tissue.

24. The implantable medical device of claim 22, wherein the therapeutic agent is a gene therapy agent for transfecting the target tissue with a light-sensitive channel protein sensitive to a wavelength of light, wherein the light source is configured to deliver light having the wavelength.

25. The implantable medical device of claim 20, further comprising a pump comprising a fluid reservoir at a distal end of the optical light guide, wherein the pump and the fluid reservoir are implantable proximate the target tissue.

26. The implantable medical device of claim 25, wherein the pump is an osmotic pump comprising the fluid reservoir and a compartment, a semi-permeable membrane permitting ingress of fluid from a patient into the compartment, and a displaceable barrier located between the compartment and the fluid reservoir.

27. The implantable medical device of claim 20, the therapy module further comprising a power management circuit configured to control power delivered to the light source.

28. The implantable medical device of claim 20, wherein the controller sets programmable stimulation parameters and delivers light according to the programmable stimulation parameters.

29. The implantable medical device of claim 28, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the parameters based on the sensed patient therapeutic state.

30. The implantable medical device of claim 28, wherein the parameters comprise at least one of a pulse rate of the light, a pulse width of the light, an amplitude intensity of the light, a duty cycle of the light, and a wavelength of the light.

31. An implantable medical device comprising:

means for generating light;

means for controlling the output of the means for generating light;

means for directing the light from the means for generating light to a target tissue;

means for sensing bioelectric signals; and

means for sensing a patient therapeutic state based on the sensed bioelectric signals substantially simultaneously with the delivery of the light from the means for generating light;

wherein the means for controlling the output of the means for generating light is configured to adjust the delivery of light to the target tissue based on the sensed patient therapeutic state.

32. The implantable medical device of claim 31, further comprising means for interpreting the bioelectric signals sensed by the means for sensing bioelectric signals.

33. The implantable medical device of claim 31, wherein the means for directing light to the target tissue comprises an optical light guide.

34. The implantable medical device of claim 31, further comprising means for storing a therapeutic agent.

35. The implantable medical device of claim 34, further comprising means for delivering the therapeutic agent from the means for storing the therapeutic agent to the target tissue.

36. The implantable medical device of claim 34, wherein the therapeutic agent is a gene therapy agent for transfecting the target tissue with a light-sensitive channel protein sensitive to a wavelength of light, wherein the means for generating light is configured to deliver light having the wavelength.

37. The implantable medical device of claim 31, further comprising means for managing power delivered to the means for generating light.

38. The implantable medical device of claim 31, wherein the means for controlling the means for generating light sets programmable stimulation parameters and delivers light according to the programmable stimulation parameters.

39. The implantable medical device of claim 38, wherein the means for controlling the means for generating light is configured to adjust the parameters based on the sensed patient therapeutic state.

40. The implantable medical device of claim 38, wherein the parameters comprise at least one of a pulse rate of the light, a pulse width of the light, an amplitude intensity of the light, a duty cycle of the light, and a wavelength of the light.