Optical waveguide nerve bridging system

Abstract

The invention discloses an optical waveguide nerve bridging system, which comprises M light sources, M electro-optical converters, N photoelectric converters and N optical waveguides, each light source is correspondingly connected with each electro-optical converter; the at least one electro-optical converter is arranged at a fracture at one end of the interrupted nerve, and the at least one photoelectric converter is correspondingly arranged at a fracture at the other end of the interrupted nerve; the optical waveguide is arranged between fractures at two ends of the interrupted nerve, one end of the optical waveguide is connected with at least one electro-optical converter, and the other end is connected with at least one photoelectric converter; m is less than or equal to N. The electrical signal generated by the damaged end of the interrupted nerve is converted into the optical signal through the electrical-to-optical converter, the optical signal is transmitted to the photoelectric converter connected with the other damaged end of the interrupted nerve through the optical waveguide, and the photoelectric converter converts the received optical signal into the electrical signal and releases the electrical signal, so that the interrupted damaged nerve establishes a connection again. And normal functions are recovered.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention discloses an optical waveguide neural bridging system, belonging to the technical field of neural bridging. Background Art

[0002] Nerves are composed of bundles of nerve fibers, which are distributed in all organs and tissues of the human body. They are highly excitable and conductive. When nerve fibers are excited by appropriate stimulation, they immediately show conductive action potentials. The conduction speed is very fast, and the conduction process is carried out in the form of bioelectric signals. However, due to trauma or other factors, nerve dysfunction, disconnection or defects will cause nerve function loss. Even if the physiological functions of muscle tissue and other tissues are intact, they cannot work normally due to lack of nerve dispatch, resulting in consequences such as muscle atrophy, movement disorders, and high paraplegia.

[0003] With the development of technology, nerve repair and nerve regeneration technologies are also constantly developing. However, for current technologies, nerve repair and nerve regeneration technologies have high requirements for neurons, glial cells, etc. in disconnected or defective nerves, making nerve recovery still extremely difficult. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide an optical waveguide nerve bridging system to reconnect the nerves at both ends of the defective nerve (bundle) and restore their normal function. To achieve the above purpose, the present invention proposes an optical waveguide nerve bridging system, and the specific scheme is as follows:

[0005] An optical waveguide neural bridge system, comprising: M light sources, M electro-optical converters, N photoelectric converters and N optical waveguides;

[0006] Each of the light sources is correspondingly connected to each of the electro-optical converters;

[0007] At least one of the electro-optical converters is disposed at one end of the interrupted nerve, and at least one of the photoelectric converters is correspondingly disposed at the other end of the interrupted nerve;

[0008] The optical waveguide is arranged between the two ends of the interrupted nerve, one end of the optical waveguide is connected to at least one of the electro-optical converters, and the other end is connected to at least one of the photoelectric converters;

[0009] M is less than or equal to N.

[0010] Preferably, it also includes a multiplexer and a demultiplexer;

[0011] The multiplexer is arranged between the electro-optical converter and the optical waveguide, and is used to combine a plurality of electrical signals converted by the electro-optical converter into a composite optical signal, and the composite optical signal is transmitted through the optical waveguide;

[0012] The demultiplexer is disposed between the optical waveguide and the photoelectric converter, and is used for separating the composite optical signal received by the photoelectric converter from the optical waveguide.

[0013] Preferably, the optical waveguide is an optical network chip or an optical fiber.

[0014] Preferably, the manufacturing platform of the optical network chip is one of a silicon-on-insulator platform, a silicon carbide-on-insulator platform or a lithium niobate platform.

[0015] Preferably, the light emitted by the light source is continuous light with a wide spectrum.

[0016] Preferably, the light source is one or more of SLD, ASE or LED.

[0017] Preferably, the electro-optical converter is an electro-optical modulator.

[0018] Preferably, the photoelectric converter is a photodiode.

[0019] Beneficial effects: The present invention converts the electrical signal generated by the damaged end of the interrupted nerve into an optical signal through an electro-optical converter, and transmits the optical signal to the photoelectric converter connected to the other damaged end of the interrupted nerve through an optical waveguide. The photoelectric converter converts the received optical signal into an electrical signal and releases it, so that the interrupted damaged nerve can re-establish connection and restore normal function. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of an optical waveguide neural bridging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more clear, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with specific implementation methods. It should be understood that the specific implementation methods described here are only used to explain the present invention and do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] An optical waveguide nerve bridge system includes: M light sources, M electro-optical converters, N photoelectric converters and N optical waveguides; each light source is connected to each electro-optical converter; the light emitted by the light source is a continuous light with a wide spectrum. The light source is one or more of SLD, ASE or LED. At least one electro-optical converter is arranged at one end of the interrupted nerve, and at least one photoelectric converter is arranged at the other end of the interrupted nerve; wherein the electro-optical converter is an electro-optical modulator, such as a Mach-Zehnder modulator or a ring modulator, etc.; and the photoelectric converter is a photodiode or other material with a photoelectric effect. Preferably, a polymer material can be selected to make it more biocompatible and improve the stability of long-term implantation in the body. The optical waveguide is arranged between the two ends of the interrupted nerve, one end of the optical waveguide is connected to at least one electro-optical converter, and the other end is connected to at least one photoelectric converter; M and N are both natural numbers greater than 1, and M is less than or equal to N. The optical waveguide is an optical network chip or an optical fiber. The preparation platform of the optical network chip is one of a silicon on insulator platform, a silicon carbide on insulator platform or a lithium niobate platform.

[0023] The optical waveguide neural bridge system of the present invention also includes a multiplexer and a demultiplexer; the multiplexer is arranged between the electro-optical converter and the optical waveguide, and is used to combine multiple electrical signals converted by the electro-optical converter into a composite optical signal, and the composite optical signal is transmitted through the optical waveguide; the demultiplexer is arranged between the optical waveguide and the photoelectric converter, and is used to separate the composite optical signal received by the photoelectric converter from the optical waveguide.

[0024] During nerve activity, electrophysiological signals are generated. Therefore, electrical stimulation is one of the most direct and mature methods for regulating and intervening in nerves. At the point where the nerve is interrupted, the change in ion concentration during signal transmission causes the change in the surface potential of the nerve. The existing technology can convert the potential change at one end of the mid-end nerve into an optical signal and transmit it to the other end of the mid-end nerve, and convert the received optical signal into electrical stimulation, so that the interrupted nerve can establish a connection and restore normal function.

[0025] Specifically, Figure 1 In one embodiment shown, a first electro-optical converter and a first photoelectric converter are respectively arranged at the damaged nerve end 1 of the interrupted nerve, and a second electro-optical converter and a second photoelectric converter are respectively arranged at the damaged nerve end 2 of the interrupted nerve, an optical waveguide is connected between the first electro-optical converter and the second photoelectric converter, an optical waveguide is connected between the second electro-optical converter and the first photoelectric converter, and the first electro-optical converter is also connected to a light source. Specifically, the light source is an LED light source, the first electro-optical converter and the second electro-optical converter are ring modulators, and the first photoelectric converter and the second photoelectric converter are photodiodes. The light source can be placed inside or outside the body, and the intervention intensity of the system on the interrupted nerve can be adjusted according to the optical power output by the light source.

[0026] The damaged nerve end 1 of the interrupted nerve generates a physiological electrical signal. The first electro-optical converter is connected to the damaged nerve end 1. The first electro-optical converter receives the continuous light output by the light source, modulates the continuous light according to the physiological electrical signal, and converts it into an optical signal. The optical signal is transmitted to the second photoelectric converter through the optical waveguide. The second photoelectric converter is connected to the damaged nerve end 2 of the interrupted nerve. The second photoelectric converter converts the received optical signal into an electrical stimulus and releases it to form control over the muscle of the damaged nerve end 2. Correspondingly, the muscle of the damaged nerve end 2 is stimulated to give feedback and generate a physiological electrical signal. The second electro-optical converter connected to the damaged nerve end 2 converts the electrical stimulus into an optical signal and transmits it to the first photoelectric converter connected to the damaged nerve end 1, wherein the light source converted into the optical signal is the reflected light emitted by the light source connected to the first electro-optical converter; the first photoelectric converter converts the received optical signal into an electrical stimulus and releases it to the damaged nerve end 1. The above process forms a closed loop of connection between the damaged nerve end 1 and the damaged nerve end 2 of the interrupted nerve.

[0027] The optical waveguide can transmit optical signals bidirectionally. Specifically, in this embodiment, an optical neural network is also included between the optical waveguides, and the optical neural network includes an optical network chip, a coupler, a modulator, and a detector. The optical neural network is used to simulate the signal processing process as a neural processing process.

[0028] The present invention converts the electrical signal generated by the damaged end of the interrupted nerve into an optical signal through an electro-optical converter, and transmits the optical signal to the photoelectric converter connected to the other damaged end of the interrupted nerve through an optical waveguide. The photoelectric converter converts the received optical signal into an electrical signal and releases it, so that the interrupted damaged nerve can reconnect and restore normal function. The system has no power supply device, generates little heat and is highly safe.

[0029] The above embodiment only expresses one implementation mode of the present invention, and its description is relatively specific and detailed, but it cannot be understood as restricting the scope of the patent of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this field, several modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, which all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present invention should be based on the attached claims.

Claims

1. An optical waveguide neural bridge system, It is characterized in that include: M light sources, M electro-optical converters, N photoelectric converters and N optical waveguides; Each of the light sources is correspondingly connected to each of the electro-optical converters; At least one of the electro-optical converters is disposed at one end of the interrupted nerve, and at least one of the photoelectric converters is correspondingly disposed at the other end of the interrupted nerve; The optical waveguide is arranged between the two ends of the interrupted nerve, one end of the optical waveguide is connected to at least one of the electro-optical converters, and the other end is connected to at least one of the photoelectric converters; M is less than or equal to N.

2. The optical waveguide neural bridge system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that Also includes multiplexers and demultiplexers; The multiplexer is arranged between the electro-optical converter and the optical waveguide, and is used to combine a plurality of electrical signals converted by the electro-optical converter into a composite optical signal, and the composite optical signal is transmitted through the optical waveguide; The demultiplexer is disposed between the optical waveguide and the photoelectric converter, and is used for separating the composite optical signal received by the photoelectric converter from the optical waveguide.

3. The optical waveguide neural bridge system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The optical waveguide is an optical network chip or an optical fiber.

4. The optical waveguide neural bridge system according to claim 3, It is characterized in that The manufacturing platform of the optical network chip is one of a silicon-on-insulator platform, a silicon carbide-on-insulator platform or a lithium niobate platform.

5. The optical waveguide neural bridge system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The light emitted by the light source is continuous light with a wide spectrum.

6. The optical waveguide neural bridge system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The light source is one or more of SLD, ASE or LED.

7. The optical waveguide neural bridge system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The electro-optical converter is an electro-optical modulator.

8. The optical waveguide neural bridge system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The photoelectric converter is a photodiode.

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