Patent ID: 8632577

Claim:
A method for optically stimulating a nerve-cell tissue of an animal and electrically stimulating the tissue of the animal in order to elicit an electrical nerve-action-potential response, the method comprising: obtaining a series of light-signal pulses for each of a plurality of optical-signal channels from an optical source, wherein each series of light-signal pulses is suitable to optically stimulate the tissue of the animal to elicit the electrical response; providing an electro-optic fiber bundle having a first plurality of optical waveguides and a first plurality of electrical conductors, wherein the electro-optic fiber bundle is operatively coupled to the optical source and configured to transmit the series of light-signal pulses obtained from the optical source; providing an integrated electro-optical substrate having a first surface that extends in two dimensions, wherein the substrate includes a second plurality of laterally spaced optical waveguides and a first plurality of exposed electrodes, wherein the providing of the substrate includes extending the laterally spaced second plurality of optical waveguides across the two dimensions of the substrate; optically coupling the substrate to an end of the electro-optic fiber bundle receiving the series of light-signal pulses from the electro-optic fiber bundle into the second plurality of optical waveguides; conducting electrical signals between the first plurality of electrical conductors of the electro-optic fiber bundle and the first plurality of exposed electrodes on the substrate; aligning the substrate such that the obtained series of light-signal pulses leaves the second plurality of optical waveguides and are directed toward the tissue of the animal; transmitting the series of light-signal pulses of each one of the plurality of optical-signal channels through a corresponding one of the first plurality of optical waveguides of the electro-optic fiber bundle and through a corresponding one of the second plurality of optical waveguides between the optical source and the tissue of the animal; optically stimulating the electrical nerve-action-potential response in the tissue of the animal using the transmitted series of light-signal pulses; generating an electrical-stimulation signal configured to provide electrical stimulation of the tissue of the animal; transmitting electrical signals corresponding to the electrical-stimulation signal using the first plurality of electrical conductors and the first plurality of exposed electrodes; and electrically stimulating the tissue of the animal using the transmitted electrical signals.