Method and apparatus for optical stimulation of nerves and other animal tissue

A method comprising:

• obtaining, from a first solid-state laser, a first laser beam having a first wavelength that is capable of directly optically stimulating an action potential in a neural tissue of an animal, wherein the first laser beam has an infra-red (IR) wavelength;
• transmitting the first laser beam in an optical-fiber structure;
• applying the first laser beam from the optical-fiber structure onto a location on the tissue for stimulation of the tissue;
• obtaining user input and based on the user input, controlling the first laser beam to stimulate an action potential in the neural tissue;
• obtaining a second laser beam having a second wavelength that is capable of directly stimulating neural tissue, wherein the second wavelength is different than the first wavelength and has a different penetration depth into a given tissue;
• transmitting the second laser beam in the optical-fiber structure;
• applying light at the first wavelength to achieve a first tissue-penetration depth;
• and
• applying light at the second wavelength to achieve a second tissue-penetration depth.

A method comprising:

• obtaining, from a first solid-state laser, a first laser beam having a first wavelength that is capable of directly optically stimulating an action potential in a neural tissue of an animal, wherein the first laser beam has an infra-red (IR) wavelength;
• transmitting the first laser beam in an optical-fiber structure;
• applying the first laser beam from the optical-fiber structure onto a location on the tissue for stimulation of the tissue;
• obtaining user input and based on the user input, controlling the first laser beam to stimulate an action potential in the neural tissue;
• obtaining a second laser beam having a second wavelength that is capable of directly stimulating neural tissue, wherein the second wavelength is different than the first wavelength and has a different penetration depth into a given tissue;
• transmitting the second laser beam in the optical-fiber structure;
• and
• applying variable amounts of the first and second different wavelengths simultaneously to achieve a tissue-penetration depth that is variable based on the intensities of the first and second wavelengths of light.

A method comprising:

• obtaining, from a first solid-state laser, a first laser beam having a first wavelength that is capable of directly optically stimulating an action potential in a neural tissue of an animal, wherein the first laser beam has an infra-red (IR) wavelength;
• transmitting the first laser beam in an optical-fiber structure;
• applying the first laser beam from the optical-fiber structure onto a location on the tissue for stimulation of the tissue;
• obtaining manual user input and when the input is received and based on the user input, controlling the first laser beam to start a series of one or more optical pulses to stimulate an action potential in the neural tissue;
• obtaining a second light beam having a visible-light wavelength;
• transmitting the second light beam in the optical-fiber structure;
• and
• imaging the second light beam from the optical-fiber structure as an indication of where the first laser beam is directed.

A method comprising:

• obtaining, from a first solid-state laser, a first laser beam having a first wavelength that is capable of directly optically stimulating an action potential in a neural tissue of an animal;
• transmitting the first laser beam in an optical-fiber structure;
• applying the first laser beam from the optical-fiber structure onto a location on the tissue for stimulation of the tissue;
• obtaining manual user input and when the input is received and based on the user input, controlling the first laser beam to start a series of one or more optical pulses to stimulate an action potential in the neural tissue, wherein the obtaining of user input further includes obtaining user input that specifies a user-specified spatial extent of a surgical operation, and wherein the applying of the first laser beam results in a spatial pattern at the tissue location based on the obtained user-specified spatial extent;
• providing a light-delivery unit for directing the first laser beam to the tissue location, wherein the light-delivery unit includes a frame configured to be affixed to the subject, and a moveable light-delivery head connected to the frame;
• and
• positioning the light-delivery head to deliver light to one of a plurality of locations on the subject.