Optoelectronic system and apparatus for connection to biological systems
First Claim
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1. Apparatus comprising a biological probe active structure and an optical connector having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein:
- the biological probe active structure comprises an implantable hermetically sealed unit and an optically transparent bonding structure that attaches the hermetically sealed unit to the distal end of the optical connector and facilitates an optical connection of the optical connector to the hermetically sealed unit,the hermetically sealed unit comprises one or more emitters disposed on a substrate, wherein at least one emitter is configured to transmit a target input to a biological target and wherein the target input is a first optical and/or electrical signal;
the hermetically sealed unit further comprises one or more detectors disposed on the substrate, wherein at least one detector is configured to receive a target output from the biological target and wherein the target output is a second optical and/or electrical signal;
the hermetically sealed unit further comprises a signal processor circuitry disposed on the substrate and coupled electrically to the one or more emitters and the one or more detectors;
the hermetically sealed unit further comprises a power component disposed on the substrate and configured to receive external optical power and provide internal electrical power for use by other elements disposed on the substrate;
the optical connector is an optical fiber,the apparatus further comprises an optical collector connected to the proximal end of the optical fiber; and
the power component is disposed so as to receive the external optical power from the optical fiber through the optically transparent bonding structure.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a biological probe structure, as well as apparatuses, systems, and methods employing this structure. In particular embodiments, the structure includes a hermetically sealed unit configured to receive and transmit one or more optical signals. Furthermore, the structure can be implanted subcutaneously and interrogated externally. In this manner, a minimally invasive method can be employed to detect, treat, and/or assess the biological target. Additional methods and systems are also provided.
74 Citations
26 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising a biological probe active structure and an optical connector having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein:
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the biological probe active structure comprises an implantable hermetically sealed unit and an optically transparent bonding structure that attaches the hermetically sealed unit to the distal end of the optical connector and facilitates an optical connection of the optical connector to the hermetically sealed unit, the hermetically sealed unit comprises one or more emitters disposed on a substrate, wherein at least one emitter is configured to transmit a target input to a biological target and wherein the target input is a first optical and/or electrical signal; the hermetically sealed unit further comprises one or more detectors disposed on the substrate, wherein at least one detector is configured to receive a target output from the biological target and wherein the target output is a second optical and/or electrical signal; the hermetically sealed unit further comprises a signal processor circuitry disposed on the substrate and coupled electrically to the one or more emitters and the one or more detectors; the hermetically sealed unit further comprises a power component disposed on the substrate and configured to receive external optical power and provide internal electrical power for use by other elements disposed on the substrate; the optical connector is an optical fiber, the apparatus further comprises an optical collector connected to the proximal end of the optical fiber; and the power component is disposed so as to receive the external optical power from the optical fiber through the optically transparent bonding structure. - 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)
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24. A method of detecting and/or treating a biological target, the method comprising:
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providing one or more external optical inputs to an apparatus comprising one or more biological probe active structures and an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, and receiving one or more injected optical outputs from the apparatus, wherein; each biological probe active structure comprises an implantable hermetically sealed unit and an optically transparent bonding structure that attaches the hermetically sealed unit to the distal end of the optical fiber and facilitates an optical connection of the optical fiber to the hermetically sealed unit; the apparatus comprises a plurality of coupling nodes, wherein each coupling node comprises one or more biological probe active structures and each coupling node is connected optically to the distal end of the optical fiber; each hermetically sealed unit comprises one or more emitters disposed on a substrate, wherein at least one emitter is configured to transmit a target input to a biological target and wherein the target input is a first optical and/or electrical signal; each hermetically sealed unit further comprises one or more detectors disposed on the substrate, wherein at least one detector is configured to receive a target output from the biological target and wherein the target output is a second optical and/or electrical signal; each hermetically sealed unit comprises a signal processing circuitry disposed on the substrate and coupled electrically to the one or more emitters and the one or more detectors; each hermetically sealed unit comprises one or more power photodetectors disposed on the substrate; the apparatus further comprises an optical collector connected to the proximal end of the optical fiber; and wherein the providing one or more external optical inputs to the apparatus comprises using an external transceiver unit to transmit the one or more external optical inputs to the apparatus via the optical collector and the optical fiber; and wherein the receiving one or more injected optical outputs from the apparatus comprises using the external transceiver unit to receive the one or more injected optical outputs from the apparatus; and wherein the providing one or more external optical inputs to the apparatus further comprises providing, on at least one external optical input, an optical power input received by the one or more power photodetectors from the optical fiber through an optically transparent bonding structure for providing internal electrical power for use by other elements disposed on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification