Optical Stimulation Device

• US 20140356892A1
• Filed: 05/29/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IMEC International, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
• Original Assignee: IMEC International, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven KU Leuven R&D
• Inventors: Braeken, Dries, Hoffman, Luis Diego Leon, Musa, Silke
• Granted Patent: US 10,159,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/40 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the nervous system A61B5/4806, A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6868 Brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0632 Constructional aspects of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0643 Applicators, probes irradiating specific body areas in close proximity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5091 for testing the pathological state of an organism

Abstract

In an aspect of the disclosure, a stimulation device includes a probe attached to a first support. The probe includes at least one grating coupler for coupling light into the probe. The device further includes at least one optical source for providing an optical stimulation signal mounted on a second support, and at least one means for detachably attaching the first support to the second support. The position of the at least one optical source is aligned with the position of the at least one grating coupler to allow light emitted from the at least one optical source to be received by the at least one grating coupler.

Claims

1. A stimulation device comprising:

a probe attached to a first support, the probe comprising at least one grating coupler for coupling light into the probe;

at least one optical source for providing an optical stimulation signal mounted on a second support; and

at least one means for detachably attaching the first support to the second support, and

wherein the position of the at least one optical source is aligned with the position of the at least one grating coupler to allow light emitted from the at least one optical source to be received by the at least one grating coupler.

2. The stimulation device according to claim 1, wherein the probe further comprises:

a tip; and

a shaft comprising at least one electrode and at least one optical stimulation site that is optically connected to the at least one grating coupler, and

wherein the at least one grating coupler is mounted on a head that is mounted on the first support, and wherein the head further comprises at least one bondpad electrically connected to the at least one electrode.

3. The stimulation device according to claim 1, wherein the probe further comprises:

a silicon substrate;

an interconnection layer;

at least one electrode electrically connected to at least one bondpad via the interconnection layer; and

at least one optical stimulation site optically connected to the at least one grating coupler via the interconnection layer.

4. The stimulation device according to claim 2, wherein the first support further comprises an electrical connector that is electrically connected to the at least one bondpad of the probe.

5. The stimulation device according to claim 4, wherein the second support further comprises an optical connector electrically connected to the at least one optical source for powering and/or controlling the at least one optical source.

6. The stimulation device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one means for detachably attaching the first support to the second support includes a bolt and a nut.

7. The stimulation device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first or the second support further comprises at least one guiding means for aligning the position of the at least one grating coupler with the position of the at least one optical source.

8. The stimulation device according to claim 5, further comprising an interface fitting located in between the first support and the second support, wherein the interface fitting includes at least one through-hole aligned on one side of the interface fitting with one of the at least one grating coupler, and on the other side of the interface fitting with one of the at least one optical source.

9. The stimulation device according to claim 8, wherein the interface fitting features a cut-out for providing space for bond wires on the first support.

10. The stimulation device according to claim 9, further comprising a gasket fitting located in between the first support and the second support, wherein the gasket fitting includes at least one through-hole aligned on one side of the gasket fitting with one of the at least one grating coupler, and on the other side of the gasket fitting with one of the at least one optical source.

11. The stimulation device according to claim 10, wherein the probe is glued to the first support.

12. The stimulation device according to claim 11, wherein one or more of the first support, the second support, or the interface fitting are printed circuit boards.

13. The stimulation device according to claim 12, wherein the gasket fitting is fabricated from an elastic material.

14. The stimulation device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one optical source is a LED.

15. A method of using the stimulation device of claim 10 as at least one of a bio-probe, a neuroprobe, or a biosensor.