Hybrid optical-electrical probes for stimulation of nerve or other animal tissue

• US 8,632,577 B1
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nervesense Ltd
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Webb, James S., Bendett, Mark P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, Bill
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIPITZ, JEFFREY BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US13/747,304
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 607/88, 607/89, 607/116, 607/122
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0605 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0647 the applicator adapted to be worn on the head
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue

Abstract

An optical-signal vestibular-nerve stimulation device and method that provides different nerve stimulation signals to a plurality of different vestibular nerves, including at least some of the three semicircular canal nerves and the two otolith organ nerves. In some embodiments, balance conditions of the person are sensed by the implanted device, and based on the sensed balance conditions, varying infrared (IR) nerve-stimulation signals are sent to a plurality of the different vestibular nerves.

Claims

1. A method for optically stimulating a nerve-cell tissue of an animal and electrically stimulating the tissue of the animal in order to elicit an electrical nerve-action-potential response, the method comprising:

obtaining a series of light-signal pulses for each of a plurality of optical-signal channels from an optical source, wherein each series of light-signal pulses is suitable to optically stimulate the tissue of the animal to elicit the electrical response;

providing an electro-optic fiber bundle having a first plurality of optical waveguides and a first plurality of electrical conductors, wherein the electro-optic fiber bundle is operatively coupled to the optical source and configured to transmit the series of light-signal pulses obtained from the optical source;

providing an integrated electro-optical substrate having a first surface that extends in two dimensions, wherein the substrate includes a second plurality of laterally spaced optical waveguides and a first plurality of exposed electrodes, wherein the providing of the substrate includes extending the laterally spaced second plurality of optical waveguides across the two dimensions of the substrate;

optically coupling the substrate to an end of the electro-optic fiber bundle

receiving the series of light-signal pulses from the electro-optic fiber bundle into the second plurality of optical waveguides;

conducting electrical signals between the first plurality of electrical conductors of the electro-optic fiber bundle and the first plurality of exposed electrodes on the substrate;

aligning the substrate such that the obtained series of light-signal pulses leaves the second plurality of optical waveguides and are directed toward the tissue of the animal;

transmitting the series of light-signal pulses of each one of the plurality of optical-signal channels through a corresponding one of the first plurality of optical waveguides of the electro-optic fiber bundle and through a corresponding one of the second plurality of optical waveguides between the optical source and the tissue of the animal;

optically stimulating the electrical nerve-action-potential response in the tissue of the animal using the transmitted series of light-signal pulses;

generating an electrical-stimulation signal configured to provide electrical stimulation of the tissue of the animal;

transmitting electrical signals corresponding to the electrical-stimulation signal using the first plurality of electrical conductors and the first plurality of exposed electrodes; and

electrically stimulating the tissue of the animal using the transmitted electrical signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical source is contained within a battery-powered electro-optic stimulation device, the method further comprising:

implanting the electro-optic stimulation device, the electro-optic fiber bundle, and the substrate in the animal such that the electro-optic fiber bundle runs from the electro-optic stimulation device at a first end of the electro-optic fiber bundle to the substrate at a second, opposite end of the electro-optic fiber bundle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the series of light-signal pulses of each one of the plurality of optical-signal channels includes transmitting different wavelengths of the series of light signal pulses to stimulate respective nerves of each of a plurality of inner-ear balance organs.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

helically wrapping a flex substrate around the electro-optic fiber bundle, wherein the flex substrate is patterned with a plurality of electrical lines, wherein the plurality of electrical lines includes the first plurality of electrical conductors, and wherein a first subset of the plurality of electrical lines are electrical conductors for signal and a second subset of the plurality of electrical lines supply power.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the electro-optic fiber bundle includes depositing the first plurality of electrical conductors as a metal film on the electro-optic fiber bundle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the electro-optic fiber bundle includes surrounding the first plurality of electrical conductors with an insulator layer, and depositing a co-axial metal-film shield layer on the insulator layer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of electrical conductors includes a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor, the method further comprising:

electrically isolating the first electrical conductor from the second electrical conductor.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

amplifying the elicited electrical nerve-action-potential response to form an amplified electrical signal; and

transmitting the amplified electrical signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the optically stimulating of the electrical nerve-action-potential response in the tissue of the animal includes optically stimulating a cochlear tissue of the animal by transmitting the series of light-signal pulses from some of the plurality of optical-signal channels through a first subset of the second plurality of optical waveguides, and optically stimulating a vestibular tissue of the animal by transmitting the series of light-signal pulses from some of the plurality of optical-signal channels through a second subset of the second plurality of optical waveguides.

10. An apparatus for optical stimulation of a nerve-cell tissue of an animal and for electrical stimulation of the tissue of the animal in order to elicit an electrical nerve-action-potential response, the apparatus comprising:

an optical source operable to emit a series of light-signal pulses for each of a plurality of optical-signal channels, wherein each series of light-signal pulses is configured to optically stimulate the tissue of the animal to elicit the electrical response;

an electro-optic fiber bundle that includes a first plurality of optical waveguides and a first plurality of electrical conductors, wherein the electro-optic fiber bundle is operatively coupled to the optical source and configured to transmit the series of light-signal pulses emitted from the optical source; and

an integrated electro-optical substrate that includes a first surface that extends in two dimensions, wherein the substrate further includes a second plurality of laterally spaced optical waveguides and a first plurality of exposed electrodes, wherein the laterally spaced second plurality of optical waveguides extend across the two dimensions of the substrate, wherein the substrate is connected to an end of the electro-optic fiber bundle and configured to receive the transmitted series of light-signal pulses from the electro-optic fiber bundle into the second plurality of optical waveguides and to conduct electrical signals between the first plurality of electrical conductors of the electro-optic fiber bundle and the first plurality of exposed electrodes on the substrate, wherein the substrate is configured to output the transmitted series of light-signal pulses from the second plurality of optical waveguides toward the tissue of the animal, and wherein the substrate is configured to output the conducted electrical signals from the first plurality of exposed electrodes toward the tissue of the animal.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the optical source is contained within a battery-powered electro-optic stimulation device, and wherein the electro-optic stimulation device, the electro-optic fiber bundle, and the substrate are configured to be implanted in the animal such that the electro-optic fiber bundle runs from the electro-optic stimulation device at a first end of the electro-optic fiber bundle to the substrate at a second, opposite end of the electro-optic fiber bundle.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the optical source is configured to couple different wavelengths of the series of light signal pulses to stimulate respective nerves of each of a plurality of inner-ear balance organs.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a flex substrate that is helically wrapped around the electro-optic fiber bundle, wherein the flex substrate is patterned with a plurality of electrical lines, wherein the plurality of electrical lines includes the first plurality of electrical conductors, and wherein a first subset of the plurality of electrical lines are electrical conductors for signal and a second subset of the plurality of electrical lines supply power.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first plurality of electrical conductors are deposited as a metal film on the electro-optic fiber bundle.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electro-optic fiber bundle includes:

an insulator layer that surrounds the first plurality of electrical conductors; and

a co-axial metal-film shield layer deposited on the insulator layer.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the animal is a human person, the apparatus further comprising:

at least one sensor configured to sense a condition that affects balance, and wherein the substrate is configured to output a different series of light-signal pulses, based on the sensed condition, to each of a plurality of different balance-sense organs to provide the person sense-of-balance nerve stimulation.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a second plurality of electrical conductors;

an electrical amplifier operatively coupled to the second plurality of electrical conductors, wherein the amplifier is configured to amplify the elicited electrical nerve-action-potential response to form an amplified electrical signal, and wherein the amplified electrical signal is transmitted by the second plurality of electrical conductors.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the substrate is further configured to output the transmitted series of light-signal pulses from some of the plurality of optical-signal channels through a first subset of the second plurality of optical waveguides toward cochlear tissue of the animal and to output the transmitted series of light-signal pulses from some of the plurality of optical-signal channels through a second subset of the second plurality of optical waveguides toward vestibular tissue of the animal.

19. An apparatus for optically stimulating a nerve-cell tissue of an animal and for electrically stimulating the tissue of the animal in order to elicit an electrical nerve-action-potential response, the method comprising:

an optical source operable to emit a series of light-signal pulses for each of a plurality of optical-signal channels from, wherein each series of light-signal pulses is suitable to optically stimulate the tissue of the animal to elicit the electrical response;

fiber-bundle means for transmitting the series of light-signal pulses of the plurality of optical-signal channels from the optical source toward the tissue of the animal and for transmitting electrical-stimulation signals toward the tissue of the animal;

substrate means for transmitting, optically coupled and electrically coupled to the fiber-bundle means for transmitting, the series of light-signal pulses of the plurality of optical-signal channels from the fiber-bundle means to the tissue of the animal and for transmitting the electrical signals from the fiber-bundle means to the tissue of the animal; and

means for aligning the substrate means for transmitting the series of light-signal pulses to direct the transmitted series of light-signal pulses to the tissue of the animal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising flex means for helically wrapping around the fiber-bundle means for transmitting, wherein the flex means is patterned with a plurality of electrical lines configured to transmit the electrical stimulation signals toward the tissue of the animal.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the optical source is configured to couple different wavelengths of the series of light signal pulses to stimulate respective nerves of each of a plurality of inner-ear balance organs.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for amplifying the elicited electrical nerve-action-potential response to form an amplified electrical signal; and

means for transmitting the elicited electrical response from the tissue of the animal to the means for amplifying.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the substrate means for transmitting includes means for transmitting the series of light-signal pulses of some of the plurality of optical-signal channels to a cochlear tissue of the animal and means for transmitting the series of light-signal pulses of some of the plurality of optical-signal channels to a vestibular tissue of the animal.