System for optical stimulation of target cells

Abstract

Various systems and methods are implemented for controlling stimulus of a cell. One such method is implemented for optical stimulation of a cell expressing a NpHR ion pump. The method includes the step of providing a sequence of stimuli to the cell. Each stimulus increases the probability of depolarization events occurring in the cell. Light is provided to the cell to activate the expressed NpHR ion pump, thereby decreasing the probability of depolarization events occurring in the cell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for optical stimulation of a cell expressing an NpHR ion pump, the method comprising:
 providing a sequence of stimuli to the cell, each stimulus increasing the probability of a depolarization event occurring in the cell; and   providing light to the cell to activate the expressed NpHR ion pump, thereby decreasing the probability of depolarization events occurring in the cell.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the optical light has a wavelength of around 560 nm. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the optical light is about 10 mW/mm 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sequence of stimuli to the cell is a sequence of electrical pulses. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell also expresses a ChR2 ion channel and the sequence of stimuli to the cell is a sequence of optical pulses. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell is stimulated in vitro. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell is stimulated in vivo. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for optical stimulation of a cell expressing an NpHR ion pump, the apparatus comprising:
 a stimulation source that provides a sequence of stimuli to the cell, each stimulus increasing the probability of a depolarization event occurring in the cell; and   an optical source for providing light to the cell to activate the expressed NpHR ion pump, thereby decreasing the probability of depolarization events occurring in the cell.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the stimulation source is an optical light source. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the stimulation source is an electrical pulse generator.