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Continuous-wave infrared optical nerve stimulation for potential diagnostic applications.

Serhat Tozburun¹, Christopher M Cilip, Gwen A Lagoda

¹University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Physics and Optical Science, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223-0001, USA.

Journal of Biomedical Optics

|November 9, 2010

Summary

Continuous-wave infrared laser stimulation offers faster optical nerve activation than pulsed methods. This technique, dependent on nerve temperature, shows promise for rapid intraoperative diagnostics during prostate cancer surgery.

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Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Neuroscience
Laser Physics

Background:

Optical nerve stimulation is an emerging alternative to electrical stimulation.
Previous research primarily utilized pulsed laser delivery at low frequencies.
Faster optical stimulation methods are needed for diagnostic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate faster optical stimulation of rat prostate cavernous nerves using continuous-wave (cw) infrared laser radiation.
To evaluate the potential of cw optical stimulation for diagnostic applications.
To compare cw stimulation with pulsed stimulation for nerve activation.

Main Methods:

Noncontact optical stimulation of rat prostate cavernous nerves in vivo using a thulium fiber laser (1870 nm).

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Nerve stimulation was assessed by measuring the intracavernous pressure (ICP) response.

The laser was operated in continuous-wave (cw) mode and pulsed mode (5-ms pulse duration at 10–100 Hz).

Main Results:

Optical nerve stimulation was achieved with both cw and pulsed laser modes.
Successful stimulation correlated with a threshold nerve temperature (42–45 °C), not incident fluence.
Continuous-wave (cw) optical nerve stimulation yielded a significantly faster ICP response time.
cw stimulation required lower laser power compared to pulsed stimulation.

Conclusions:

Continuous-wave (cw) infrared laser stimulation provides a faster response for prostate cavernous nerve activation.
Nerve temperature is a critical factor for successful optical nerve stimulation.
cw optical nerve stimulation is a viable alternative for intraoperative diagnostics requiring rapid nerve identification during prostate cancer surgery.