Transdermal Optogenetic Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsHugh M. Herr, Benjamin Maimon, Anthony Zorzos
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Abstract
A nerve in a mammal is optogenetically transduced, wherein the nerve is susceptible to stimulus by selective application of transdermal light, and a light source is applied to dermis of the mammal at or proximate to the optogenetically transduced nerve, to thereby stimulate the nerve. A wearable device for optogenetic motor control and sensation restoration of a mammal includes a wearable support, a power source at the wearable support, a controller at the wearable support and in electrical communication with a power source, and a transdermal light source coupled to the controller.
Claims26
A wearable device for optogenetic motor control and restoring sensation in a mammal, comprising:
- a) a wearable support;
- b) a power source at the wearable support;
- c) a controller at the wearable support and in electrical communication with the power source;
- and
- d) a transdermal light source coupled to the controller, the controller driving the light source to direct light from the wearable support and directed toward the mammal while wearing the support.
A method of stimulating a nerve of a mammal, comprising the steps of:
- a) optogenetically transducing a nerve in a mammal, wherein the nerve is susceptible to stimulus by selective application of transdermal light;
- and
- b) applying a light source to dermis of the mammal proximate to the optogenetically transduced nerve, thereby stimulating the nerve.
A method of optogenetically transfecting a mammal, comprising the step of administering to selected tissue of the mammal genetic material encoding light-sensitive opsins and a neural promoter, wherein the genetic material causes a transdermal optogenetic peripheral nervous system response to light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.