Miniature method and apparatus for optical stimulation of nerves and other animal tissue

• US 8,506,613 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2011
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nervesense Ltd
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Webb, James S., Miyake, Charles I., Bendett, Mark P., Lemaire, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, Bill
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIPITZ, JEFFREY BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US13/157,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20110238141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 607 88- 92
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue

Abstract

A hand-held self-contained nerve-stimulation device and method using light to provide a source of precise stimulation on one or more nerve fibers. In some embodiments, this simulation is provided through a device and method wherein a laser- or LED-light source is mounted to the handpiece. Light is passed from the light source through optical tip to simulate nerves. In some embodiments, the device is constructed from non-magnetic material such as glass, plastic or ceramics. In some embodiments, the light emanating from the optical tip can be controlled manually or automatically. In some embodiments, the handpiece contains a self-contained power source, such as batteries. In some embodiments, the handpiece is at least in part, activated by remote control in order to prevent moving the handpiece during activation. Some embodiments include a unit operable to sense a response of nerve stimulation and to suppress a laser-ablation surgery operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a handheld nerve-stimulation unit, the unit including;

a unitary handpiece;

a first semiconductor-based visible-light-emitting source operative to emit a first visible optical pointer signal at a first visible color wavelength, wherein the first visible color wavelength is visible to humans;

a second semiconductor-based visible-light-emitting source operative to emit a second visible optical pointer signal at a second visible color wavelength, wherein the second visible color wavelength is visible to humans;

a first nerve-stimulation-light-emitting source that is operative to emit a first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal at a third wavelength, wherein the third wavelength is different than the first visible color wavelength and the second visible color wavelength; and

optics configured to focus the first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal to a focus location point at which the first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal has a desired focus, wherein the first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal, when applied such that the focus location point is on a nerve of an animal subject, triggers a nerve-action potential response in the nerve, wherein the first visible optical pointer signal and the second visible optical pointer signal together indicate the focus location point of the first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal and provide optical indicia that distinguish a focused condition from conditions that do not have the desired focus, and wherein at least one of the first visible optical pointer signal and the second visible optical pointer signal is noncoincident to the first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal as the at least one visible optical pointer signal transmits through an exit surface of the unitary handpiece of the nerve-stimulation unit;

wherein the first nerve-stimulation-light-emitting source, the first visible light-emitting source, and the second visible light-emitting source are located within the unitary handpiece, and wherein the optics includes at least a first lens located interior to the unitary handpiece and facing the first nerve-stimulation-light-emitting source, the first visible light-emitting source, and the second visible light-emitting source and configured to cross the first visible optical pointer signal with the second visible optical pointer signal at the focus location point of the first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal, and wherein the first visible optical pointer signal, the second visible optical pointer signal, and the first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal pass through the first lens such that the first visible optical pointer signal and the second visible optical-pointer signal coincide with one another at the focus location point of the first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a liquid-delivery unit attached to the unitary handpiece of the nerve-stimulation unit and configured to deliver, at an optical-delivery tip of the unitary handpiece of the nerve-stimulation unit, a liquid to the nerve of the subject.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optics includes a plurality of optical-focus elements arranged in series.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first visible color wavelength is a wavelength of visible red light, and wherein the second visible color wavelength is a wavelength of visible blue light.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optics is affixed to, and disposable with, a disposable sheath.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the unitary handpiece of the nerve-stimulation unit includes a substantially in-line self-contained body, and wherein the nerve-stimulation unit further includes a self-contained power source operatively coupled to provide power to the first nerve-stimulation-light-emitting source and located within the substantially in-line body.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery operatively coupled to provide power to the first nerve-stimulation-light-emitting source.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second visible color wavelength is different than the first visible color wavelength.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising:

a tissue-ablation laser source that selectively delivers a pulsed tissue-ablation optical signal at a fourth wavelength that ablates tissue of the animal subject; and

a camera-and-projector mapping system that detects locations of one or more nerves, projects a map of the located one or more nerves, and suppresses output from the tissue-ablation laser source when in a vicinity of the detected and mapped nerves.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a function controller operatively coupled to the nerve-stimulation unit and configured to select a functional state of the nerve-stimulation unit, wherein the function controller receives user input and selectively activates a functional state of the nerve-stimulation unit based on the received user input, and wherein the function controller adjusts a visible characteristic of visible light emitted by the apparatus to deliver information to indicate which function has been selected.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising:

a tissue-ablation laser source that selectively delivers a pulsed tissue-ablation optical signal at a fourth wavelength that ablates tissue of the animal subject; and

a camera-and-projector mapping system that includes;

a sensor circuit, a camera, and an image processor configured to detect locations of one or more nerves and configured to generate a map of the located one or more nerves,

a projector configured to project the map of the located one or more nerves, and

an inhibitor circuit configured to suppress output from the tissue-ablation laser source when in a vicinity of the detected and mapped nerves.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a handheld nerve-stimulation unit, the nerve-stimulation unit including;

a unitary handpiece;

first semiconductor-based means for emitting a first visible optical pointer signal at a first visible color wavelength, wherein the first visible color wavelength is visible to humans;

second semiconductor-based means for emitting a second visible optical pointer signal at a second visible color wavelength, wherein the second visible color wavelength is visible to humans;

a first laser diode that is operable to emit a first infrared laser beam at a third wavelength, wherein the third wavelength is different than the first visible color wavelength and the second visible color wavelength;

means for obtaining user input;

means for controlling the first laser diode to output, based on the user input, the first infrared laser beam; and

means for focusing the first infrared laser beam to a focus location point at which the first infrared laser beam has a desired focus, wherein the focused first infrared laser beam is configured to directly optically stimulate an action potential response in a neural tissue of an animal subject, wherein the first visible optical pointer signal and the second visible optical pointer signal together indicate the focus location point of the first infrared laser beam and provide optical indicia that distinguish a focused condition from conditions that do not have the desired focus, and wherein at least one of the first visible optical pointer signal and the second visible optical pointer signal is non-coincident to the first infrared laser beam as the at least one visible optical pointer signal transmits through an exit surface of the unitary handpiece of the nerve-stimulation unit;

wherein the first laser diode, the semiconductor-based means for emitting a first visible optical pointer signal, and the semiconductor-based means for emitting a second visible optical pointer signal are located within the unitary handpiece, and wherein the means for focusing includes at least a first lens located interior to the unitary handpiece and facing the first laser diode, the semiconductor-based means for emitting a first visible optical pointer signal, and the semiconductor-based means for emitting a second visible optical pointer signal and configured to cross the first visible optical pointer signal with the second visible optical pointer signal at the focus location point of the first infrared laser beam, and wherein the first visible optical pointer signal, the second visible optical pointer signal, and the first infrared laser beam pass through the first lens such that the first visible optical pointer signal and the second visible optical-pointer signal coincide with one another at the focus location point of the first infrared laser beam.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising means for delivering a liquid to the neural tissue of the animal subject from the unitary handpiece of the nerve-stimulation unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for focusing the first infrared laser beam further includes means for focusing the first infrared laser beam to an area sufficiently small to stimulate just a subset of nerves within a nerve bundle.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for controlling the first laser diode further includes from a battery to the first laser diode.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second visible color wavelength is different than the first visible color wavelength.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the means for obtaining user input further includes means for receiving input to select a functional state of the apparatus, and

the means for controlling further includes function-controlling means for selecting a first function of the first laser diode based on the obtained user input, wherein the function-controlling means includes means for adjusting a visible characteristic of visible light emitted by the apparatus to deliver information to indicate which function has been selected.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a unitary handpiece;

a first semiconductor-based visible-light-emitting source operative to emit a first visible optical pointer signal at a first visible color wavelength, wherein the first visible color wavelength is visible to humans;

a second semiconductor-based visible-light-emitting source operative to emit a second visible optical pointer signal at a second visible color wavelength, wherein the second visible color wavelength is visible to humans;

a tissue-interaction laser source that selectively delivers a pulsed tissue-interaction optical signal at a third wavelength, wherein the third wavelength is different than the first visible color wavelength and the second visible color wavelength, wherein the pulsed optical signal causes at least one result selected from the set consisting of;

(triggering a nerve-action potential in a nerve of an animal subject, and ablating tissue of the animal subject); and

optics configured to focus the pulsed optical signal to a focus location point at which the pulsed tissue-interaction optical signal has a desired focus, wherein the pulsed optical signal, when applied such that the focus location point is on the animal subject, causes the at least one selected result, wherein the first visible optical pointer signal and the second visible optical pointer signal together indicate the focus location point of the pulsed tissue-interaction optical signal and provide optical indicia that distinguish a focused condition from conditions that do not have the desired focus, and wherein at least one of the first visible optical pointer signal and the second visible optical pointer signal is non-coincident to the pulsed tissue-interaction optical signal as the at least one visible optical pointer signal transmits through an exit surface of the unitary handpiece of the nerve-stimulation unit;

wherein the tissue-interaction laser source, the first semiconductor-based visible-light-emitting source, and the second semiconductor-based visible-light-emitting source are located within the unitary handpiece, and wherein the optics includes at least a first lens located interior to the unitary handpiece and facing the tissue-interaction laser source, the first semiconductor-based visible-light-emitting source, and the second semiconductor-based visible-light-emitting source and configured to cross the first visible optical pointer signal with the second visible optical pointer signal at the focus location point of the pulsed tissue-interaction optical signal, and wherein the first visible optical pointer signal, the second visible optical pointer signal, and the pulsed tissue-interaction optical signal pass through the first lens such that the first visible optical pointer signal and the second visible optical-pointer signal coincide with one another at the focus location point of the pulsed tissue-interaction optical signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the tissue-interaction laser source includes a tissue-ablation laser source that selectively delivers a pulsed tissue-ablation optical signal at the third wavelength that ablates tissue of the animal subject.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the tissue-interaction laser source includes a first nerve-stimulation-light-emitting source that is operative to emit a first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal at the third wavelength that triggers a nerve-action potential in the nerve of the animal subject.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the tissue-interaction laser source includes a tissue-ablation laser source that selectively delivers a pulsed tissue-ablation optical signal at the third wavelength that ablates tissue of the animal subject, the apparatus further comprising:

a camera-and-projector mapping system that detects locations of one or more nerves, projects a map of the located one or more nerves, and suppresses output from the tissue-ablation laser source when in a vicinity of the detected and mapped nerves.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the tissue-interaction laser source includes a tissue-ablation laser source that selectively delivers a pulsed tissue-ablation optical signal at the third wavelength that ablates tissue of the animal subject, wherein the unitary handpiece is configured to be manually scanned back and forth across an area of tissue by hand, and wherein the unitary handpiece includes a surgical suppression unit configured to automatically suppress delivery of the pulsed optical signal from the tissue-ablation laser source if a nerve is detected and configured to activate delivery of the pulsed optical signal if no nerve is detected.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a liquid-delivery unit attached to the apparatus and configured to deliver, at an optical-delivery tip of the apparatus, a liquid to a surface of the subject at which the pulsed tissue-interaction optical signal is directed.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the optics includes a plurality of optical-focus elements arranged in series in an optical path of the pulsed tissue-interaction optical signal.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a function controller operatively coupled to the tissue-interaction laser source and configured to select a functional state of the tissue-interaction laser source, wherein the function controller receives user input and selectively activates a functional state of the tissue-interaction laser source based on the received user input, and wherein the function controller adjusts a visible characteristic of visible light emitted by the apparatus to deliver information to indicate which function has been selected.