A Device to Control Peripheral Nervous Tissue Containing Light-Gated Channels

Title: A device to photo-stimulate peripheral nervous tissue.

Inventor: Michael Llewellyn, Karl Deisseroth, Scott Delp

Abstract:

The device emits light onto transgenic nervous tissue in the peripheral nervous system, making it possible to stimulate or inhibit various functions of the peripheral nervous system. Examples of these functions are muscle stimulation/inhibition, pain management, cardiac control, gastrointestinal and urinary management, etc...

Applications:

* Treatment of intractable depression or epilepsy by vagal nerve stimulation.

* Activation or inhibition of skeletal muscle activity for patients suffering from stroke, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, etc...

* In pain management applications, it would be possible to inhibit stimulation of pain-sensing nerves.

* Stimulation or inhibition of gastrointestinal activity to ameliorate diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome.

* Control of heart rate and force produced during a contraction for patients suffering from cardiovascular disease

Advantages:

* Ability to inhibit or stimulate nervous tissue

* Highly specific in terms of cell type activated

* High temporal resolution

* Can be adapted to a wide range of applications