Patent ID: 6711440
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: A61N,G02B

Abstract:
An optical sense signal generator for photonic pacemakers and other opto-electric medical stimulation equipment and adapted to operate at the distal end of an implantable photonic catheter having one or more optical conductors for conducting light energy in two directions between electronics at a proximal end of the catheter and electrical stimulation and sensing components at the catheter distal end, said optical sense signal generator, comprising:an optical unit adapted to receive a light input delivered from said catheter proximal end by one of said optical conductors and to transmit a first portion of said light input as a transmitted light output to an opto-electrical converter for conversion into electrical stimulation signals while diverting a second portion of said light input as a diverted light output; an optical modulator positioned to receive said diverted light output and adapted to modulate said diverted light output under an applied electrical signal; an electrical circuit in said sense signal generator, said electrical circuit being connected to an electrical sensing component at said catheter distal end and adapted to generate an electrical sense signal corresponding to a physiological condition to be sensed by said sensing component; and said electrical circuit being connected to provide said electrical sense signal to said optical modulator in order to modulate said diverted light output into a sensing optical signal; said optical unit being an optical homogenizer.