IMPLANTABLE INFRARED NERVE STIMULATION DEVICES FOR PERIPHERAL AND CRANIAL NERVE INTERFACES
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- selectively emitting a plurality of light signals, each having a wavelength and each having a pulse duration, from each of a plurality of lasers including a first laser and a second laser;
directing the light from the first laser onto a first tissue of the patient, wherein the light from the first laser onto a first tissue of the patient is insufficient alone to stimulate a nerve action potential (NAP) in the first tissue; and
directing the light from the second laser onto the first tissue of the patient, wherein the light from the second laser onto a first tissue of the patient is insufficient alone to stimulate a nerve action potential (NAP) in the first tissue, but wherein the light from the first laser and the light from the second laser intersecting onto the first tissue of the patient is sufficient to stimulate a NAP in the first tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for making and using devices that generate optical signals, and optionally also electrical signals in combination with one or more such optical signals, to stimulate (i.e., trigger) and/or simulate a sensory-nerve signal in nerve and/or brain tissue of a living animal (e.g., a human), for example to treat nerve damage in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) or the central nervous system (CNS) and provide sensations to stimulate and/or simulate “sensory” signals in nerves and/or brain tissue of a living animal (e.g., a human) to treat other sensory deficiencies (e.g., touch, feel, balance, visual, taste, or olfactory) and provide sensations related to those sensory deficiencies, and/or to stimulate (i.e., trigger) and/or simulate a motor-nerve signal in nerve and/or brain tissue of a living animal (e.g., a human), for example to control a muscle or a robotic prosthesis.
63 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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selectively emitting a plurality of light signals, each having a wavelength and each having a pulse duration, from each of a plurality of lasers including a first laser and a second laser; directing the light from the first laser onto a first tissue of the patient, wherein the light from the first laser onto a first tissue of the patient is insufficient alone to stimulate a nerve action potential (NAP) in the first tissue; and directing the light from the second laser onto the first tissue of the patient, wherein the light from the second laser onto a first tissue of the patient is insufficient alone to stimulate a nerve action potential (NAP) in the first tissue, but wherein the light from the first laser and the light from the second laser intersecting onto the first tissue of the patient is sufficient to stimulate a NAP in the first tissue. - 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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a plurality of lasers including a first laser and a second laser; a control circuit configured to control generation of pulsed nerve-stimulation light from the first and second lasers; and a light-delivery system configured to direct the light from the first laser onto a first tissue of the patient, wherein the light from the first laser onto a first tissue of the patient is insufficient alone to stimulate a nerve action potential (NAP) in the first tissue, and to direct the light from the second laser onto the first tissue of the patient, wherein the light from the second laser onto a first tissue of the patient is insufficient alone to stimulate a NAP in the first tissue, but wherein the light from the first laser and the light from the second laser intersecting onto the first tissue of the patient deliver a trigger amount of pulsed light sufficient to stimulate a NAP in the first tissue. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) including a first VCSEL and a second VCSEL; means for directing the light from the first VCSEL onto a first tissue of the patient, wherein the light from the first VCSEL onto a first tissue of the patient is insufficient alone to stimulate a nerve action potential (NAP) in the first tissue; and means for directing the light from the second VCSEL onto the first tissue of the patient, wherein the light from the second VCSEL onto a first tissue of the patient is insufficient alone to stimulate a nerve action potential (NAP) in the first tissue, but wherein the light from the first VCSEL and the light from the second VCSEL intersecting onto the first tissue of the patient is sufficient to stimulate a NAP in the first tissue.
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Specification