Method and apparatus of pulsed infrared light for central nervous system neurons

US9044596B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · US

Inventors

• Anita Mahadevan-Jansen · Nashville, US
• Jonathan Matthew Cayce · Knoxville, US
• Robert Friedman · Nashville, US
• Anna Roe · Nashville, US
• E. Duco Jansen · Nashville, US
• Mykyta Chernov · Lebanon, US
• Peter Konrad · Old Hickory, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 24, 2012
• Grant date: Jun 2, 2015
• Expiry date: Jun 21, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N2005/0659
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a method of applying infrared neural stimulation (INS) to the central nervous system (CNS) of a target. The methods includes applying a pulsed infrared laser at a stimulation site in the CNS; and evoking responses from a region of interest of the CNS that is at or adjacent to the stimulation site by the pulsed infrared laser. In the method, the pulsed infrared laser penetrates a predetermined penetration depth of the stimulation site. Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an apparatus for applying INS to the CNS of a target. The apparatus includes a generator generating a pulsed infrared laser, which penetrates a predetermined penetration depth of a stimulation site to evoke a response from the CNS, and an optical medium adapted for delivering the pulsed infrared laser at the stimulation site of the CNS.