Photochemical stimulation of nerves

• US 3,900,034 A
• Filed: 04/10/1974
• Issued: 08/19/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph J. Katz, Thomas R. Janson
• Original Assignee: Joseph J. Katz, Thomas R. Janson
• Inventors: Katz, Joseph J., Janson, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Layton, Henry S.
• Application Number:
  US05/459,756
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 128/395,396,418,419 331/94.5
• US Class Current: 607/89
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/30 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0006 taking account of the properties of the material involved B23K26/32, B23K26/40 take precedence

Abstract

A method is provided for stimulating a nerve or a severed nerve by placing a low power laser, preferably a photodiode laser, near the nerve and irradiating the nerve with the output from the laser. An end organ response is elicited upon irradiation of the attached nerve fiber. The output from the laser is of a nondestructive intensity such that the nerve and the tissue surrounding the nerve are not injured. The photochemical stimulation of the nerve is enhanced by staining the nerve to be stimulated with a sensitive, vital stain prior to the laser irradiation of the nerve.

Claims

1. A METHOD OF STIMULATING A NERVE COMPRISING PLASING A PHOTODIODE LASER NEAR SAID NERVE AND IRRADIATING SAID NERVE WITH THE OUTPUT FROM SAID PHOTODIODE LASER SAID PHOTODIODE LASER HAVING A NONDESTRUCTIVE INTENSITY WHEREBY SAID NERVE IS STIMULATED.

2. A method of photochemically stimulating a nerve in accordance with the method of claim 1 wherein said nerve to be stimulated is stained with a sensitive vital stain prior to said laser irradiation.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said photodiode laser emits light and said stain absorbs light in the near infrared spectrum.

4. A method of photochemically stimulating a nerve comprising:

staining said nerve to be stimulated with a sensitive vital stain, which stain absorbs light in the visible spectrum;

placing a helium-neon gas laser near said nerve, said helium-neon gas laser having an output spectrum in the visible region; and

irradiating said nerve with the output from said laser, said output being of a nondestructive intensity;

whereby said nerve is stimulated.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said stain is an organic blue stain.

6. A method of photochemically stimulating a nerve without injuring said nerve tissue or the tissue surrounding said nerve comprising:

staining said nerve to be stimulated with a sensitive vital stain;

placing a low-energy photodiode laser near said nerve;

pulsing said photodiode laser;

irradiating said nerve with the output of said photodiode laser, said output being of a nondestructive intensity;

whereby said nerve is stimulated.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said photodiode laser is zinc-coated gallium arsenide.

8. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said sensitive vital stain is selected from the group consisting of Janus Green B, Methylene Blue, Trypan Blue, Brilliant Cresyl Blue, Nile Blue A, and Crystal Violet.