초록 ▼

A hand-held self-contained nerve-stimulation device and method using light to provide a source of precise stimulation on one or more nerve fibers. In some embodiments, this simulation is provided through a device and method wherein a laser- or LED-light source is mounted to the handpiece. Light is p

A hand-held self-contained nerve-stimulation device and method using light to provide a source of precise stimulation on one or more nerve fibers. In some embodiments, this simulation is provided through a device and method wherein a laser- or LED-light source is mounted to the handpiece. Light is passed from the light source through optical tip to simulate nerves. In some embodiments, the device is constructed from non-magnetic material such as glass, plastic or ceramics. In some embodiments, the light emanating from the optical tip can be controlled manually or automatically. In some embodiments, the handpiece contains a self-contained power source, such as batteries. In some embodiments, the handpiece is at least in part, activated by remote control in order to prevent moving the handpiece during activation. Some embodiments include a unit operable to sense a response of nerve stimulation and to suppress a laser-ablation surgery operation.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus comprising:a nerve-stimulation-and-surgical unit, the nerve-stimulation-and-surgical unit including:a first nerve-stimulation-light-emitting source that is operative to emit a first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal at a first wavelength;a visible-light-em

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus comprising:a nerve-stimulation-and-surgical unit, the nerve-stimulation-and-surgical unit including:a first nerve-stimulation-light-emitting source that is operative to emit a first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal at a first wavelength;a visible-light-emitting source operative to emit a visible optical pointer signal at a second wavelength that is visible to a human and that is different than the first wavelength and that is configured to indicate a location of the first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal;a tissue-ablation laser source that selectively delivers a surgical pulse of optical energy that ablates animal tissue;a beam-combining unit located in the nerve-stimulation-and-surgical unit and operatively coupled to receive the first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal from the first nerve-stimulation-light-emitting source, the visible optical pointer signal from the visible-light-emitting source, and the surgical pulse of optical energy from the tissue-ablation laser source, and to combine and output a single combined beam containing, the first nerve-stimulation infrared optical signal from the first nerve-stimulation-light-emitting source, the visible optical pointer signal from the visible-light-emitting source, and the surgical pulse of optical energy from the tissue-ablation laser source;an optical-delivery element located at a delivery tip of the nerve-stimulation-and-surgical unit, wherein the optical-delivery element delivers the single combined beam through the delivery tip and focuses the single combined beam onto a nerve of a subject such that the focused beam triggers a nerve-action potential response in the nerve;a nerve-response sensor operatively coupled to the nerve-stimulation-and-surgical unit, wherein the sensor senses a nerve response of the subject and generates signal information based on the nerve response; andcontrol circuitry that is operatively coupled to control the first nerve-stimulation-light-emitting source, the visible-light emitting source, and the tissue-ablation laser source.