Patent ID: 8475506

Claim:
A method comprising: emitting pulsed light having a wavelength in a range of 1.8 microns to 2 microns and having a pulse duration from each of a first plurality of vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) including a first VCSEL and a second VCSEL, wherein the pulsed light from the first VCSEL and the second VCSEL is configured to stimulate nerve-action-potential responses in optically stimulatable target tissue, and wherein at least the first VCSEL is mounted on a first flexible substrate portion configured to conform to an anatomical shape of a first optically stimulatable target tissue of an animal; directing the light from the first VCSEL onto the first tissue but substantially not onto a second optically stimulatable target tissue in order to stimulate nerve-action-potential responses in the first tissue; and directing the light from the second VCSEL onto the second tissue but substantially not onto the first tissue in order to stimulate nerve-action-potential responses in the second tissue.