System and methods for optical stimulation of neural tissues

Abstract

The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a system for stimulating neural tissue of a living subject. The system comprises an energy source capable of generating optical energy, a connector having a first end and a second end capable of transmitting optical energy, and a probe operably coupled to the second end of the connector and having an end portion for delivering optical energy to a target neural tissue. In one embodiment, the energy source comprises a tunable laser.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for stimulating tissue of a living subject, comprising:
 (a) an energy source capable of generating optical energy;   (b) a connector having a first end and a second end adapted for transmitting optical energy, wherein the first end of the connector is coupled to the energy source; and   (c) a probe operably coupled to the second end of the connector and having an end portion for delivering optical energy directly to a target tissue,
 wherein when the probe delivers optical energy to the target tissue through the end portion, the end portion is positioned away from the target tissue such that there is a distance between the end portion and the target tissue and there is no object positioned between the end portion of the probe and the target tissue, and wherein the optical energy has a wavelength within a range from about 1.2 μm to about 10.0 μm. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy source comprises a tunable laser. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the tunable laser comprises a pulsed infrared laser. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a body portion defining a channel extending from the first end to the second end, and at least one optical fiber housed in the channel. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the connector further comprises one or more optical fibers housed in the channel, each optical fiber being capable of transmitting optical energy. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more optical fibers form a bundle or an array. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a knob on the probe in communication with the energy source for tuning laser fluence of the tunable laser. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the connector further comprises a control wiring housed in the channel. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control wiring housed in the channel controls the knob for tuning laser fluence of the tunable laser. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the probe further comprises a base portion and a casing for housing the base portion and the end portion. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the probe is movable three dimensionally to selectively deliver optical energy to one or more electrically excitable portions of the target tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the target tissue comprises at least one neural fascicle associated with a peripheral nervous system of the living subject. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the target tissue comprises at least one electrically excitable tissue. 
     
     
         14 . A system for stimulating tissue of a living subject, comprising:
 (a) an energy source capable of generating optical energy; and   (b) a delivering means coupled to the energy source for delivering optical energy directly to a target tissue,
 wherein the delivering means is adapted for delivering optical energy directly to the target tissue at a distance away from the target tissue; and wherein when the delivering means delivers optical energy to the target tissue, there is no object positioned between the end portion of the probe and the target tissue, and wherein the optical energy has a wavelength in a range from about 1.2 μm to about 10.0 μm. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the energy source comprises a tunable laser. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the tunable laser comprises a pulsed infrared laser. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the delivering means comprises:
 (b1) a connector having a first end and a second end defining a body portion therebetween, the body portion defining a channel extending from the first end to the second end;   (b2) at least one optical fiber housed in the channel capable of transmitting optical energy; and   (b3) a probe operably coupled to the second end of the connector and having an end portion for delivering optical energy to a target tissue.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the delivering means further comprises a plurality of optical fibers housed in the channel. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of optical fibers form a bundle or an array. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a knob in communication with the energy source for tuning laser fluence of the tunable laser. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the delivering means further comprises at least one control wiring housed in the channel. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one control wiring housed in the channel is controlled by the knob for tuning laser fluence of the tunable laser. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the delivering means further comprises a selecting device operably coupled to the connector for selectively delivering optical energy through at least one of the plurality of optical fibers. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising a computer coupled to the selecting device for controlling the selecting device. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the delivering means further comprises a movable stage that is operably coupled to the computer, wherein the probe is mounted to the movable stage so that the probe is movable with the movable stage three dimensionally to selectively deliver optical energy to one or more electrically excitable portions of the target tissue. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the delivering means further comprises driving means for moving the movable stage three dimensionally. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the probe further comprises a base portion and a casing capable of housing the base portion and the end portion. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the probe is movable three dimensionally to selectively deliver optical energy to one or more neural fibers of the target tissue. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the delivering means comprises:
 (b1) a first optical means for directing the optical energy to a desired direction; and   (b2) a second optical means for focusing the optical energy directed by the first optical means to a target tissue, wherein the first optical means and the second optical means are positioned along an optical path.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the first optical means comprises an optical reflector. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the second optical means comprises an optical lens. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the target tissue comprises at least one nerve fascicle associated with a peripheral nervous system of the living subject. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the target tissue comprises at least one electrically excitable tissue.