Method of Treating Traumatic Brain Injury with Red/NIR Light

Abstract

Endoscopic delivery of Red/NIR light to the Substantia Nigra to treat Parkinson's Disease in order to raise the energy levels in the substantia nigra.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A surgical method, comprising:
 endoscopically delivering a device including a light emitter into a patient's body;   passing the device through a natural foramen that includes nervous tissue; and   stimulating the nervous tissue adjacent to the device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein stimulating the nervous tissue includes actuating the light emitter to emit any of white and near infrared (NIR) light onto the tissue. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the device further comprises an electrode and stimulating the nervous tissue includes any of actuating the light emitter to emit light onto the tissue and actuating the electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the emitted light is any of white and near infrared (NIR) light. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the light emitter includes a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a light source of the light emitter is positioned within the patient's body after the device is endoscopically delivered into the patient's body. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a light source of the light emitter is positioned outside the patient's body after the device is endoscopically delivered into the patient's body and the light emitter includes an optical wave guide to deliver light into the patient's body. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the optical wave guide is a fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a diffuser is coupled to a distal end of the fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         11 . A surgical method, comprising:
 stereotactically delivering a device including a light emitter into a patient's body;   passing the device through a natural foramen that includes nervous tissue; and   stimulating the nervous tissue adjacent to the device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein stimulating the nervous tissue includes actuating the light emitter to emit any of white and near infrared (NIR) light onto the tissue. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the device further comprises an electrode and stimulating the nervous tissue includes any of actuating the light emitter to emit light onto the tissue and actuating the electrode. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the emitted light is any of white and near infrared (NIR) light. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the light emitter includes a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a light source of the light emitter is positioned within the patient's body after the device is endoscopically delivered into the patient's body. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a light source of the light emitter is positioned outside the patient's body after the device is endoscopically delivered into the patient's body and the light emitter includes an optical wave guide to deliver light into the patient's body. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the optical wave guide is a fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a diffuser is coupled to a distal end of the fiber optic cable.