Implantable optical stimulators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10434327-B2
Application number	US-26304408-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2008
Priority date	Oct 31, 2007
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

Various systems and methods are implemented for in vivo use in a living animal. One such method involves stimulating target cells having light-responsive proteins and includes providing an elongated light-delivery structure in a narrow passageway in the animal, the elongated light-delivery structure having separately-activatable light sources located along the length of the elongated light-delivery structure. The method also includes activating less than all the light sources to deliver light to light-responsive proteins adjacent to the activated light sources along the length of the elongated light-delivery structure, thereby stimulating target cells in vivo.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for stimulating target neurons expressing light-responsive proteins in a living mammal in vivo, the method comprising:
genetically modifying one or more neurons in the mammal to express a light-responsive ion channel or a light-responsive ion pump, such that the genetically modified one or more neurons are responsive to light, wherein the genetically modified one or more neurons are target neurons;
introducing into the brain of the mammal an elongated light-delivery structure having a distal end, a proximal end, and a plurality of separately-activatable light-delivery elements electrically connected in parallel at a site near the target neurons of the mammal, the elongated light-delivery structure comprising an array conformed to an outer surface around a circumference of the distal end, wherein each light-delivery element extends from the proximal end to the array and separately terminates at an aperture at a specific array location, wherein groups of separately-activatable light-delivery elements are affixed to each other to form a ring;
activating a plurality of the light-delivery elements to deliver light to the light-responsive ion channel or ion pump, thereby stimulating the target neurons, wherein the light-delivery elements are individually controlled by a multichannel driver;
detecting a measure of performance of the animal using a sensor;
storing the measure of performance of the animal in a computer; and
determining a neuromodulation parameter for the multichannel driver based on the measure of performance of the animal, wherein the neuromodulation parameter is a direction of the light emitted from the array of light-delivery elements,
wherein the method further comprises:
generating sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters, wherein the sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters comprise control information for the plurality of light-delivery elements;
activating the plurality of light-delivery elements according to one or more of the sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters;
detecting neuromodulation effects from the activation of the plurality of light-deliver elements;
correlating the one or more sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters with the detected neuromodulation effects; and
selecting one of the sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters as a treatment regimen for the mammal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises securing a portion of the elongated light-delivery structure to a skull of the mammal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of activating a plurality of the light-delivery elements includes sending light pulses having a duration of less than about one-second to the plurality of light-delivery elements.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the array completely encircles the elongated light-delivery structure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongated-light-delivery structure comprises a light controller, and wherein the method further comprises controlling light delivery from the elongated light-delivery structure via the light controller.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the method further comprises delivering light concurrently to opposing sides of the elongated light-delivery structure and thereby stimulating target neurons on opposing sides of the elongated light-delivery structure.

7. A method for stimulating cells in a living animal in vivo, the method comprising:
identifying target cells genetically altered to express at least one of channelrhodopsin-2 and halorhodopsin, the target cells being responsive to light;
inserting an elongated light-delivery structure into the animal at a location adjacent to the target cells, wherein the elongated light-delivery structure comprises a distal end, a proximal end, a plurality of separately-activatable light-delivery elements electrically connected in parallel, and an array conformed to an outer surface around a circumference of the distal end, wherein each light-delivery element extends from the proximal end to the array and separately terminates at an aperture at a specific array location, wherein groups of separately-activatable light-delivery elements are affixed to each other to form a ring, and wherein the light-delivery elements are individually controlled by a multichannel driver;
while the elongated light-delivery structure is in the animal, delivering light from at least one of the plurality of light-delivery elements to at least one of the channelrhodopsin-2 and halorhodopsin in the selected target cells, thereby stimulating the selected target cells, and
detecting a measure of performance of the animal using a sensor;
storing the measure of performance of the animal in a computer; and
determining a neuromodulation parameter for the multichannel driver based on the measure of performance of the animal, wherein the neuromodulation parameter is a direction of the light emitted from the array of light-delivery elements,
wherein the method further comprises:
generating sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters, wherein the sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters comprise control information for the plurality of light-delivery elements;
activating the plurality of light-delivery elements according to one or more of the sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters;
detecting neuromodulation effects from the activation of the plurality of light-delivery elements;
correlating the one or more sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters with the detected neuromodulation effects; and
selecting one of the sets of candidate neuromodulation parameters as a treatment regimen for the animal.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the elongated light-delivery structure includes a light controller, and wherein the method further comprises controlling light delivery from the plurality of light-delivery elements with the light controller.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light-delivery elements each include a different light generating element, and wherein each light generating element is responsive to a control circuit.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each of the light-delivery elements comprises a fiber optic cable.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light-activated ion channel is channelrhodopsin-2.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light-activated ion channel is halorhodopsin.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuromodulation parameter further comprises one or more of a location of the light-delivery element, an intensity of the light from the light-delivery element, and a wavelength of the light from the light-delivery element.

Assignees

• Deisseroth Karl
• Schneider M Bret
• Univ Leland Stanford Junior

Inventors

• Deisseroth Karl
• Schneider M Bret

Classifications

• A61N5/0622 Primary

  Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue · CPC title

• A61N5/0603

  for treatment of body cavities · CPC title

• A61N2005/0645

  Applicators worn by the patient · CPC title

• A61N2005/063

  comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres · CPC title