Apparatus and method for managing chronic pain with infrared and low-level light sources
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an infrared-light nerve stimulation plus low-level light therapy (INS-plus-LLLT) device configured to be implanted in an animal, and having a cuff configured to be positioned around a nerve bundle in the animal, wherein the INS-plus-LLLT device includes;
a plurality of nerve-stimulation light sources that output pulsed infrared light nerve-stimulation signals in an inward direction toward the nerve bundle within the cuff, wherein the plurality of nerve-stimulation light sources is operable to output the pulsed infrared light nerve-stimulation signals into the nerve bundle at a penetration depth of approximately 400 μ
m;
a low-level light therapy unit that outputs low-level light therapy signals in an outward direction from the cuff toward tissue of the animal located outside the cuff, wherein the LLLT signals configured to be efficacious for pain management, wherein the low-level light therapy unit is operable to output the low-level light therapy signals into the tissue at a penetration depth of approximately one centimeter; and
a controller operatively coupled to control the plurality of nerve-stimulation light sources and the low-level light therapy unit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for infrared-light nerve stimulation plus low-level light therapy (INS-plus-LLLT) that includes providing an infrared-light nerve stimulation plus low-level light therapy (INS-plus-LLLT) device; implanting the INS-plus-LLLT device in the animal; emitting a plurality of infrared laser-light nerve-stimulation signals from the INS-plus-LLLT device and directing the plurality of infrared laser-light nerve stimulation signals toward a neural tissue of the animal in order to trigger an action potential response in the neural tissue; and generating a plurality of low-level light therapy signals using the INS-plus-LLLT device and directing the low-level light therapy signals toward the neural tissue of the animal, wherein the low-level light therapy signals are configured to be efficacious for pain management in order to reduce an acute pain of the animal.
228 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
an infrared-light nerve stimulation plus low-level light therapy (INS-plus-LLLT) device configured to be implanted in an animal, and having a cuff configured to be positioned around a nerve bundle in the animal, wherein the INS-plus-LLLT device includes; a plurality of nerve-stimulation light sources that output pulsed infrared light nerve-stimulation signals in an inward direction toward the nerve bundle within the cuff, wherein the plurality of nerve-stimulation light sources is operable to output the pulsed infrared light nerve-stimulation signals into the nerve bundle at a penetration depth of approximately 400 μ
m;a low-level light therapy unit that outputs low-level light therapy signals in an outward direction from the cuff toward tissue of the animal located outside the cuff, wherein the LLLT signals configured to be efficacious for pain management, wherein the low-level light therapy unit is operable to output the low-level light therapy signals into the tissue at a penetration depth of approximately one centimeter; and a controller operatively coupled to control the plurality of nerve-stimulation light sources and the low-level light therapy unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
9. A method comprising:
-
providing an infrared-light nerve stimulation plus low-level light therapy (INS-plus-LLLT) device having a cuff; implanting the INS-plus-LLLT device in the animal such that the cuff is positioned around a nerve bundle of the animal; emitting a plurality of pulsed infrared light nerve-stimulation signals from the INS-plus-LLLT device and directing the plurality of pulsed infrared light nerve-stimulation signals in an inward direction toward the nerve bundle within the cuff in order to trigger an action potential response in the nerve bundle, wherein the directing includes outputting the pulsed infrared light nerve stimulation signals into the nerve bundle at a penetration depth of approximately 400 μ
m; andgenerating a plurality of low-level light therapy signals using the INS-plus-LLLT device and directing the low-level light therapy signals in an outward direction from the cuff toward tissue of the animal located outside the cuff, wherein the low-level light therapy signals are configured to be efficacious for pain management of the animal, and wherein the directing of the low-level light therapy signals includes outputting the low-level light therapy signals into the tissue at a penetration depth of approximately one centimeter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An apparatus comprising:
-
an infrared-light nerve stimulation plus low-level light therapy (INS-plus-LLLT) device configured to be implanted in an animal, and having a cuff configured to be positioned around a nerve bundle in the animal, wherein the INS-plus-LLLT device includes; means for emitting a plurality of pulsed infrared laser-light nerve-stimulation signals and directing the plurality of pulsed infrared laser-light nerve-stimulation signals in an inward direction toward the nerve bundle within the cuff in order to trigger an action potential response in the nerve bundle, wherein the means for emitting and directing the pulsed infrared laser-light nerve-stimulation signals outputs the pulsed infrared laser-light nerve-stimulation signals into the nerve bundle at a penetration depth of approximately 400 μ
m;means for generating a plurality of low-level light therapy signals and directing the low-level light therapy signals in an outward direction from the cuff toward tissue of the animal located outside the cuff in order to reduce a pain of the animal, wherein the means for generating and directing the low-level light therapy signals outputs the low-level light therapy signals into the tissue at a penetration depth of approximately one centimeter; and means for controlling the means for emitting and the means for generating. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification