Device and method for transmitting multiple optically-encoded stimulation signals to multiple cell locations
First Claim
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1. A stimulation device for transmitting stimulation information to a plurality of physiological stimulation sites in a body of a patient, said device comprising:
- light generating means for generating light having a plurality of wavelength components;
encoding means for separately encoding at least a portion of said stimulation information into each of said wavelength components;
a multiplexing arrangement for multiplexing said wavelength components encoded by the encoding means into an encoded light signal;
a primary waveguide having an input end operationally connected to the multiplexing arrangement for receiving the encoded light signal therefrom, a light-guiding axis for guiding said encoded light signal therealong and an output end adapted to be implanted in the body of the patient proximate said stimulation sites, said output end having a plurality of output positions spatially distributed along said light guiding axis; and
an outcoupling arrangement provided at said output end of the primary waveguide, said outcoupling arrangement being wavelength-sensitive for transversally coupling each of the wavelength components of the encoded light signal out of said primary waveguide at a different one of said output positions, each of said output positions to associated with one of said stimulation sites, said outcoupling arrangement transmitting the at least a portion of said stimulation information encoded in each wavelength component to the corresponding stimulation site through the associated output position.
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Abstract
The present invention concerns a device and method for transmitting multiple optically-encoded stimulation signals to multiple stimulation sites, especially cell locations. The device uses a primary optical fiber to transmit specific wavelength components of an encoded light signal to output positions along the fiber where they are coupled out of the primary fiber to stimulation sites via electrodes for electrical stimulation of the sites or optical windows and/or secondary optical fibers for photo-stimulation of sites.
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Citations
65 Claims
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1. A stimulation device for transmitting stimulation information to a plurality of physiological stimulation sites in a body of a patient, said device comprising:
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light generating means for generating light having a plurality of wavelength components; encoding means for separately encoding at least a portion of said stimulation information into each of said wavelength components; a multiplexing arrangement for multiplexing said wavelength components encoded by the encoding means into an encoded light signal; a primary waveguide having an input end operationally connected to the multiplexing arrangement for receiving the encoded light signal therefrom, a light-guiding axis for guiding said encoded light signal therealong and an output end adapted to be implanted in the body of the patient proximate said stimulation sites, said output end having a plurality of output positions spatially distributed along said light guiding axis; and an outcoupling arrangement provided at said output end of the primary waveguide, said outcoupling arrangement being wavelength-sensitive for transversally coupling each of the wavelength components of the encoded light signal out of said primary waveguide at a different one of said output positions, each of said output positions to associated with one of said stimulation sites, said outcoupling arrangement transmitting the at least a portion of said stimulation information encoded in each wavelength component to the corresponding stimulation site through the associated output position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for transmitting stimulation information to a plurality of physiological stimulation sites in a body of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. generating light having a plurality of wavelength components; b. separately encoding at least a portion of said stimulation information into each of said wavelength components; c. multiplexing said wavelength components encoded by the encoding means into an encoded light signal; d. guiding said encoded light signal along a light-guiding axis of a primary waveguide having an output end implanted in the body of the patient proximate said stimulation sites, said output end having a plurality of output positions spatially distributed along said light-guiding axis; and e. transversally coupling each of the wavelength components of the encoded light signal out of said primary waveguide at a different one of said output positions through a wavelength-sensitive outcoupling arrangement, each of said output positions being associated with one of said stimulation sites, the at least a portion of said stimulation information encoded in each wavelength component being transmitted to the corresponding stimulation site through the associated output position. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A cochlear implant for transmitting auditory stimulation information to auditory neuron sites of the cochlea in situ of a patient, said cochlear implant comprising:
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light generating means for generating light having a plurality of wavelength components; encoding means for separately encoding at least a portion of said auditory stimulation information into each of said wavelength components; a multiplexing arrangement for multiplexing said wavelength components encoded by the encoding means into an encoded light signal; a primary waveguide having an input end operationally connected to the multiplexing arrangement for receiving the encoded light signal therefrom, a light-guiding axis for guiding said encoded light signal therealong and an output end adapted to be implanted proximate said auditory neuron sites of the cochlea, said output end having a plurality of output positions spatially distributed along said light-guiding axis; and an outcoupling arrangement provided at said output end of the primary waveguide, said outcoupling arrangement being wavelength-sensitive for transversally coupling each of the wavelength components of the encoded light signal out of said primary waveguide at a respective one of a plurality of output positions along the light-guiding axis, each of said output positions being associated with a corresponding different one of said auditory neuron sites of the cochlea, said outcoupling arrangement transmitting the at least a portion of said stimulation information encoded in each wavelength component to the corresponding neuron site through the associated output position. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65)
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Specification