Electro-optical stimulation/measurement
First Claim
1. An electro-optical system comprising:
- an array comprising;
a plurality of optical fibers configured to transmit light, the optical fibers being mechanically coupled at distal ends in a distal arrangement and mechanically coupled at proximal ends in a proximal arrangement; and
a plurality of electrodes substantially coaxially disposed with at least portions of corresponding optical fibers, the electrodes being electrically conductive, with the electrodes and optical fibers being disposed in pairs, thereby being pair components, with one of the pair components of each pair being disposed about a radial periphery of the other pair component; and
an insulator disposed between the plurality of electrodes and configured to inhibit transfer of electrical energy between the plurality of electrodes.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electro-optical system includes an array including a plurality of optical fibers and a plurality of electrodes, and an insulator. The optical fibers are configured to transmit light, the optical fibers being mechanically coupled at distal ends in a distal arrangement and mechanically coupled at proximal ends in a proximal arrangement. The plurality of electrodes are substantially coaxially disposed with at least portions of corresponding optical fibers, the electrodes being electrically conductive, with the electrodes and optical fibers being disposed in pairs, thereby being pair components, with one of the pair components of each pair being disposed about a radial periphery of the other pair component. The insulator is disposed between the plurality of electrodes and configured to inhibit transfer of electrical energy between the plurality of electrodes.
43 Citations
39 Claims
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1. An electro-optical system comprising:
an array comprising; a plurality of optical fibers configured to transmit light, the optical fibers being mechanically coupled at distal ends in a distal arrangement and mechanically coupled at proximal ends in a proximal arrangement; and a plurality of electrodes substantially coaxially disposed with at least portions of corresponding optical fibers, the electrodes being electrically conductive, with the electrodes and optical fibers being disposed in pairs, thereby being pair components, with one of the pair components of each pair being disposed about a radial periphery of the other pair component; and an insulator disposed between the plurality of electrodes and configured to inhibit transfer of electrical energy between the plurality of electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of stimulating and sensing an object, the method comprising:
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providing energy in a first form to the object through at least one of a plurality of first energy transmitters disposed in a first array at least at distal ends of the first energy transmitters, the first form of energy being one of electrical and optical; and sensing energy in a second form, produced by the object, through at least one of a plurality of second energy transmitters disposed in a second array at least at distal ends of the second energy transmitters, the first and second energy transmitters being mechanically coupled together and coaxially disposed at least at their distal ends, the second form of energy being one of electrical and optical, the second form of energy being different than the first form of energy. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An electro-optical actuator/sensor system comprising:
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optical means for delivering light to an optical-fiber array; electrical means for delivering electricity through an electrical array of microelectrodes, the electrical means comprising electrically-conductive cladding of the optical fibers in the optical-fiber array; an electrical apparatus coupled to the electrical means and configured to transfer electrical energy between the electrical apparatus and selected ones of the microelectrodes; and an optical apparatus configured and disposed to transfer light between the apparatus and the optical-fiber array. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. An electro-optical array comprising:
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an optical substrate configured to transmit light, the substrate defining a plurality of openings extending through a thickness of the substrate; a plurality of electrodes disposed within the openings through the substrate; and at least one electrical conductor coupled to a portion of the plurality of electrodes, the at least one electrical conductor being configured to couple to an apparatus for supplying current to, and receiving current from, the at least one electrical conductor. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of specifically stimulating a target cell in a population of non-target cells, comprising:
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providing energy, using a portion of an array of energy transmitters, to cells that include said target cell and said non-target cells; detecting an optical signal, using another portion of said array of energy transmitters, to identify said target cell; and delivering an electrical current, using yet another portion of said array of energy transmitters, to said cell; wherein said electrical current is substantially not delivered to a non-target cell and wherein said target cell is stimulated to transduce an intracellular or extracellular signal.
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39. A method of specifically destroying a target cell in a population of non-target cells, comprising:
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providing energy, using a portion of an array of energy transmitters, to cells that include said target cell and said non-target cells; detecting an optical signal, using another portion of said array of energy transmitters, to identify said target cell; and delivering an electrical current, using yet another portion of said array of energy transmitters, to said cell; wherein said electrical current is substantially not delivered to a non-target cell and wherein said target cell is destroyed.
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Specification