Development of an optical brain/nerve stimulator

在神经刺激领域的一项新技术突破中，我们范德比尔特大学的合作者开发了一种新的模式，使用低强度脉冲红外激光代替电能来激发神经和肌肉的复合电位。光刺激可以诱导空间精确、高度可控和无伪影的动作电位，使用远低于组织消融阈值的能量产生，呈现出神经激活的范式转变，对临床神经刺激以及基础神经生理学和神经科学具有重要意义。这种新模式为高分辨率脑成像和神经传导研究以及神经切除的高空间选择性等可能性打开了大门。虽然光学刺激已经被证实是一种可行的神经激活方法，但要找到实用和临床应用的方法，必须开发一种简单、用户友好、便携、可靠和低成本的设备。在第二阶段的提案中，Aculight与范德比尔特大学、西北大学和华盛顿州立大学合作，计划开发一种Aculight便携式光学刺激器（APOS），用于神经刺激的研究设备。第一个目标是开发一个带有光纤探头的APOS原型。第二个目的是在外周神经研究中验证APOS原型。第三个目的是更新和评估面神经和迷走神经刺激、耳蜗神经刺激和脑片刺激的APOS。第四个也是最后一个目标是使用APOS原型在临床环境中验证TONS的安全性和有效性。在这个资助期结束时，我们希望展示APOS在研究环境中使用的安全性和有效性，这将为生产前的资格测试做好准备。视觉脑/神经刺激器项目的发展为科学家进一步研究和临床应用神经组织提供了一种新的方法。TONS的优点是可以提供高分辨率的神经组织映射，从而减少侵入性诊断程序，从而降低手术风险。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Development of an optical brain/nerve stimulator Abstract In a novel technological breakthrough in neural stimulation, our collaborators at Vanderbilt University have developed a new modality that uses low intensity pulsed infrared laser light instead of electrical energy to elicit compound nerve and muscle potentials. Optical stimulation can induce spatially precise, highly controlled and artifact-free action potentials, generated using energies well below tissue ablation threshold, presenting a paradigm shift in neural activation that has major implications to clinical neural stimulation as well as fundamental neurophysiology and neuroscience. This new modality opens the door to such possibilities as high resolution brain mapping and nerve conduction studies as well as high spatial selectivity in neural resection. While optical stimulation has been validated as a viable method for neural activation, to find its way to practical utility and clinical use, a simple, user friendly, portable, reliable and low cost device must be developed. In this phase 2 proposal, Aculight, in collaboration with Vanderbilt University, Northwestern University, and Washington State University plan to develop an Aculight portable optical stimulator (APOS) for use as a research device for nerve stimulation. The first aim is to develop a prototype APOS with a fiber probe. The second aim is to validate the prototype APOS in peripheral nerve studies. The third aim is to update and evaluate the APOS for facial and Vagal nerve stimulation, cochlear nerve stimulation, and brain slice stimulation. The fourth and final aim is to validate the safety and efficacy of TONS in a clinical setting using the APOS prototype. At the end of this grant period we expect to show the safety and efficacy of an APOS for use in a research setting that will be ready for pre-production qualification testing. Development of an optical brain/nerve stimulator Project Narrative Transient Optical Nerve Stimulation (TONS) provides a new method for scientists to further research and clinical applications involving neural tissue. The advantages of TONS can provide high resolution mapping of neural tissue allowing for less invasive diagnostic procedures that can also lead to fewer surgical risks.