Patent ID: 8551150
Filing Date: 2013-10-08
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: obtaining a plurality of laser-light sources configured to generate a plurality of laser-light signals including a first laser-light signal, a second laser-light signal, and a third laser-light signal; providing an implantable optical-emission head configured to direct the plurality of laser-light signals toward nerves of an animal, wherein the providing of the optical-emission head includes providing a plurality of optical-output ports that emit light from a first emitting surface of the optical-emission head, wherein the plurality of optical-output ports includes a first optical-output port, a second optical-output port, and a third optical-output port; coupling the plurality of laser-light sources to the optical-emission head using a plurality of optical waveguides including a first optical waveguide carrying the first laser-light signal to the first optical-output port, a second optical waveguide carrying the second laser-light signal to the second optical-output port, and a third optical waveguide carrying the third laser-light signal to the third optical-output port; implanting the optical-emission head in the animal such that the plurality of optical-output ports of the optical-emission head directs the plurality of laser-light signals toward the nerves of the animal; outputting the plurality of laser-light signals from the plurality of optical-output ports to the nerves of the animal; testing the implanted optical-emission head to determine which selected subset of the plurality of optical-output ports is most effective for optical stimulation of desired nerves of the nerves, wherein the testing causes selected subsets of laser-light sources of the plurality of laser-light sources to emit laser-light signals from the plurality of optical-output ports toward the nerves, wherein the testing includes sensing conditions that affect balance of the animal during the testing, wherein the conditions are related to nerve action potentials (NAPs) triggered in the nerves by the laser-light signals emitted during the testing, wherein the most-effective selected subset of the plurality of optical-output ports is determined at least partly based on the sensing of the conditions; and selectively controlling the plurality of laser-light signals from each of the plurality of laser-light sources such that the plurality of laser-light signals provide controlled optical stimulation to the desired nerves in order to trigger nerve-action potentials (NAPS) in the desired nerves, wherein the selectively controlling includes using results of the testing of the implanted optical-emission head such that the selectively controlling of the plurality of laser-light signals results in the optical-emission head emitting laser-light signals from the selected subset of the plurality of optical-output ports that was determined to be most effective for optical stimulation of the desired nerves.