Method and system for optical stimulation of neurons

Abstract

A method of stimulating neurons present in a living body is disclosed. The method comprises directing light to an artificial light absorbing medium implanted extracellularly at a target location having the neurons therein, wherein wavelengths and intensities of the light are selected so as to heat the light absorbing medium by light absorption. The heating is sufficient to stimulate neurons nearby the light absorbing medium. In some embodiments, the light is spatially modulating so as to encode a stimulation pattern therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of stimulating neurons present in a living body, the method comprising:
 capturing an image of a scene;   generating a hologram corresponding to a neuron stimulation pattern based on said image; and   projecting said hologram onto a target location having neurons therein so as to selectively stimulate said neurons.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said target location is implanted with an artificial light absorbing medium, and wherein wavelengths and intensities of said hologram are selected so as to heat said light absorbing medium by light absorption. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising extracellularly implanting said artificial light absorbing medium at said target location. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said light absorbing medium is distributed extracellularly at said target location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neurons express a light-activated ion channel protein, and wherein wavelengths and intensities of said holograms are selected so as to activate said light-activated ion channel protein. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising transfecting said neurons by gene transfer vectors capable of inducing expression of said light-activated ion channel protein. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stimulation pattern is a three-dimensional stimulation pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said target location is a retina. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said target location is a cochlea. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said target location is in the cerebral cortex. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said target location is in the brainstem. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said target location is the vagus nerve. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said target location is a cranial nerve. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said target location is a neuron culture. 
     
     
         15 . A neurostimulation system, comprising:
 an imaging device configured for capturing an image of a scene;   an illumination system, configured for generating a hologram corresponding to a neuron stimulation pattern based on said image; and   optics configured for projecting said hologram onto a target location having neurons therein so as to selectively stimulate said neurons.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said illumination system is configured for providing phase-only modulation. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said illumination system is configured for providing concurrent phase and amplitude modulation. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said optics is a free-space optics. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said optics comprises an optical fiber bundle. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said stimulation pattern is a three-dimensional stimulation pattern.