VCSEL array stimulator apparatus and method for light stimulation of bodily tissues

• US 8,475,506 B1
• Filed: 08/13/2008
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Bendett, Mark P., Wells, Jonathon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHU, YONG LIANG
• Application Number:
  US12/191,301
• Time in Patent Office: 1,784 Days
• Field of Search: 607/89
• US Class Current: 607/89
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0612 using probes penetrating tissue; interstitial probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue

Abstract

An apparatus and method using an array of VCSELs operable to emit light at one or more wavelengths, pulse-repetition rates, pulse durations, pulse powers, pulse energies, and/or light-distribution spatial and/or temporal patterns, that are effective to stimulate or photostimulate human or other animal tissue, and in particular, nerve tissue. In some embodiments, the invention provides an implantable device that includes an array having a plurality of VCSELs in a spatial pattern suitable to stimulate or photostimulate a plurality of different areas of tissue (e.g., a plurality of different nerves). In some embodiments, the device is instead partially implantable. In some embodiments, the device is instead external to the body of the animal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

emitting pulsed light having a wavelength in a range of 1.8 microns to 2 microns and having a pulse duration from each of a first plurality of vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) including a first VCSEL and a second VCSEL, wherein the pulsed light from the first VCSEL and the second VCSEL is configured to stimulate nerve-action-potential responses in optically stimulatable target tissue, and wherein at least the first VCSEL is mounted on a first flexible substrate portion configured to conform to an anatomical shape of a first optically stimulatable target tissue of an animal;

directing the light from the first VCSEL onto the first tissue but substantially not onto a second optically stimulatable target tissue in order to stimulate nerve-action-potential responses in the first tissue; and

directing the light from the second VCSEL onto the second tissue but substantially not onto the first tissue in order to stimulate nerve-action-potential responses in the second tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

emitting light having a wavelength in a range of 650 nm to 850 nm from each of a second plurality of vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) including a third VCSEL and a fourth VCSEL, wherein the first VCSEL and the third VCSEL are mounted on the first flexible substrate portion;

directing the light from the third VCSEL onto the first tissue and illuminating the first tissue but substantially not illuminating the second tissue;

detecting a reflected light from the first tissue and determining a first physiological activity of the first tissue;

directing the light from the fourth VCSEL onto the second tissue and illuminating the second tissue but substantially not illuminating the first tissue; and

detecting a reflected light from the second tissue and determining a second physiological activity of the second tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first VCSEL and the second VCSEL are formed in a monolithic single semiconductor substrate.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the third VCSEL and the fourth VCSEL are formed in a monolithic single semiconductor substrate.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the second VCSEL and the fourth VCSEL are mounted on a second flexible substrate portion configured to conform to an anatomical shape of the second optically stimulatable target tissue, wherein the first flexible substrate portion and the second flexible substrate portion are both part of a single flex-circuit array, the method further comprising:

internally inserting the single flex-circuit array into a cochlea having a cochlear nerve, wherein the first tissue is located in a first region of the cochlear nerve and the second tissue is located in a second region of the cochlear nerve.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

integrating a first microlens with the first VCSEL and focusing the pulsed light from the first VCSEL onto the first tissue;

integrating a second microlens with the second VCSEL and focusing the pulsed light from the second VCSEL onto the second tissue;

integrating a third microlens with the third VCSEL and focusing the pulsed light from the third VCSEL onto the first tissue; and

integrating a fourth microlens with the fourth VCSEL and focusing the pulsed light from the fourth VCSEL onto the second tissue.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the second VCSEL and the fourth VCSEL are mounted on a second flexible substrate portion configured to conform to an anatomical shape of the second optically stimulatable target tissue, wherein the first flexible substrate portion is a first flex-cuff ring and the second flexible substrate portion is a second flex-cuff ring.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the first VCSEL, the second VCSEL, the third VCSEL and the fourth VCSEL are mounted in one or more biocompatible housings having an optical feed through.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein the second VCSEL and the fourth VCSEL are mounted on a second flexible substrate portion configured to conform to an anatomical shape of the second optically stimulatable target tissue.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a first plurality of vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) including a first VCSEL and a second VCSEL;

a control circuit configured to control generation of pulsed light from the first and second VCSELs, wherein the pulsed light from the first VCSEL and the second VCSEL is configured to stimulate nerve-action-potential responses in optically stimulatable target tissue, and wherein at least the first VCSEL is mounted on a first flexible substrate portion configured to conform to an anatomical shape of a first optically stimulatable target tissue of an animal;

a light delivery system configured to direct the light from the first VCSEL onto the first tissue but substantially not onto a second optically stimulatable target tissue in order to stimulate nerve-action-potential responses in the first tissue; and

the light delivery system further configured to direct the light from the second VCSEL onto the second tissue but substantially not onto the first tissue in order to stimulate nerve-action-potential responses in the second tissue.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a second plurality of vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) including a third VCSEL and a fourth VCSEL, wherein the first VCSEL and the third VCSEL are located on the first flexible substrate portion;

the light delivery system further configured to direct the light from the third VCSEL onto the first tissue but substantially not onto the second tissue in order to illuminate the first tissue;

the light delivery system further configured to direct the light from the fourth VCSEL onto the second tissue but substantially not onto the first tissue in order to illuminate the second tissue;

a plurality of detectors including a first detector and a second detector;

the first detector configured to detect reflected light from the first tissue to determine a first physiological activity in the first tissue; and

the second detector configured to detect reflected light from the second tissue to determine a second physiological activity in the second tissue.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first VCSEL and the second VCSEL are formed in a monolithic single semiconductor substrate.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the third VCSEL and the fourth VCSEL are formed in a monolithic single semiconductor substrate.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second VCSEL and the fourth VCSEL are mounted on a second flexible substrate portion configured to conform to an anatomical shape of the second optically stimulatable target tissue, wherein the first flexible substrate portion and the second flexible substrate portion are both part of a single flex-circuit array, wherein the single flex-circuit array is configured to be inserted internally into a cochlea having a cochlear nerve, and wherein the first tissue is located in a first region of the cochlear nerve and the second tissue is located in a second region of the cochlear nerve.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a first microlens integrated with the first VCSEL to focus the pulsed light from the first VCSEL onto the first tissue;

a second microlens integrated with the second VCSEL to focus the pulsed light from the second VCSEL onto the second tissue;

a third microlens integrated with the third VCSEL to focus the pulsed light from the third VCSEL onto the first tissue; and

a fourth microlens integrated with the fourth VCSEL to focus the pulsed light from the fourth VCSEL onto the second tissue.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second VCSEL and the fourth VCSEL are mounted on a second flexible substrate portion configured to conform to an anatomical shape of the second optically stimulatable target tissue, wherein the first flexible substrate portion is a first flex-cuff ring and the second flexible substrate portion is a second flex-cuff ring.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first VCSEL, the second VCSEL, the third VCSEL and the fourth VCSEL are mounted in one or more biocompatible housings having an optical feed through.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second VCSEL and the fourth VCSEL are mounted on a second flexible substrate portion configured to conform to an anatomical shape of the second optically stimulatable target tissue.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first VCSEL, the second VCSEL, the third VCSEL, and the fourth VCSEL are enclosed in biocompatible material having an optical feed through.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) including a first VCSEL and a second VCSEL;

means for controlling generation of pulsed light from the first and second VCSELs, wherein the pulsed light from the first and second VCSELs is configured to stimulate nerve-action-potential responses in optically stimulatable target tissue;

flexible means for conforming the plurality of VCSELs to an anatomical shape of a first optically stimulatable target tissue;

means for directing the light from the first VCSEL onto the first tissue but substantially not onto a second optically stimulatable target tissue in order to stimulate nerve-action-potential responses in the first tissue; and

means for directing the light from the second VCSEL onto the second tissue but substantially not onto the first tissue in order to stimulate nerve-action-potential responses in the second tissue.