Patent ID: 6850805

Claim:
An implantable cable desired for transmission of a signal to and from a body tissue of a vertebrate, comprising: a fiber optic bundle having a surface of non-immunogenic, physiologically compatible material, said fiber optic bundle being capable of being permanently implanted in a body cavity or subcutaneously, said fiber optic bundle having a distal end for implantation at or adjacent to the body tissue and a proximal end; said proximal end being adapted to be coupled to and direct an optical signal source; said distal end being adapted to be coupled to an optical stimulator; said fiber optic bundle delivering an optical signal intended to cause an optical stimulator coupled to said distal end to deliver an excitatory stimulus to a selected body tissue, the stimulus being causing the selected body tissue to function as desired; a photoresponsive device for converting the light transmitted by said fiber optic bundle into electrical energy, and for sensing variations in the light energy to produce control signals; a charge accumulating device for receiving and storing the electrical energy produced by the photoresponsive device; and a discharge control device, responsive to the control signals, for directing the stored electrical energy from the charge accumulating device to a cardiac assist device associated with a heart.