The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 30, 2013
Filed:
Jan. 26, 2011
Jonathon D. Wells, Seattle, WA (US);
Mark P. Bendett, Kirkland, WA (US);
James S. Webb, Seattle, WA (US);
Charles A. Lemaire, Apple Valley, MN (US);
Austin R. Duke, Nashville, TN (US);
E. Duco Jansen, Nashville, TN (US);
Peter E. Konrad, Nashville, TN (US);
Anita Mahadevan-jansen, Nashville, TN (US);
Jonathon D. Wells, Seattle, WA (US);
Mark P. Bendett, Kirkland, WA (US);
James S. Webb, Seattle, WA (US);
Charles A. Lemaire, Apple Valley, MN (US);
Austin R. Duke, Nashville, TN (US);
E. Duco Jansen, Nashville, TN (US);
Peter E. Konrad, Nashville, TN (US);
Anita Mahadevan-Jansen, Nashville, TN (US);
Lockheed Martin Company, Bethesda, MD (US);
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for stimulating animal tissue (for example to trigger a nerve action potential (NAP) signal in a human patient) by application of both electrical and optical signals for treatment and diagnosis purposes. The application of an electrical signal before or simultaneously to the application of a NAP-triggering optical signal allows the use of a lower amount of optical power or energy than would otherwise be needed if an optical signal alone was used for the same purpose and effectiveness. The application of the electrical signal may precondition the nerve tissue such that a lower-power optical signal can be used to trigger the desired NAP, which otherwise would take a higher-power optical signal were the electric signal not applied. Some embodiments include an implanted nerve interface having a plurality of closely spaced electrodes placed transversely and/or longitudinally to the nerve and a plurality of optical emitters.